The Women’s Tennis Association has announced a new policy aimed at supporting players wishing to take time away from the Tour for fertility treatment.
The Fertility Protection Special Entry Ranking Rule is a player-back initiative aimed at helping those on the Tour balance their career with family life. Under the new rules, any eligible player who undergoes a treatment such as egg or embryo freezing will be entitled to a Special Entry Ranking (SER). They will then be able to use this ranking to enter up to three tournaments upon return. These rankings will be based on their 12-week average ranking eight weeks before the start of their out-of-competition break.
“We understand that professional athletes can face a dilemma between focusing on their career and starting a family, and we are committed to supporting WTA players as they navigate and balance the choices associated with career and family,” WTA CEO Portia Archer said via a press release.
“After hearing from players that the option of fertility protection offers a proactive way to balance family goals and career ambitions, we’re delighted that this new measure, alongside the fertility grant offered by the PIF WTA Maternity Fund, will contribute to enabling our athletes to realize their full potential and become parents at a time of their choice.”
Former US Open champion and world No.3 Sloane Stephens is one of the first players to praise the new policy. The 32-year-old recently told the BBC she used the off-season to freeze her eggs twice.
“I’m incredibly proud of our sport in recognising the importance of fertility treatments for female athletes. For any woman, the conversation of family life versus a career is nuanced and complex,” said Stephens.
“The WTA has now created a safe space for players to explore options and to make the best decisions for themselves.”
Earlier this year, the WTA introduced a maternity fund programme in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Players can receive paid maternity leave for up to 12 months and have access to grants for fertility treatments.
The PIF has been in a multi-year partnership with the WTA since 2024 and they are classed as a ‘global partner.’ They are also the naming partner of the WTA rankings. Furthermore, the season-ending WTA Finals are currently held in Saudi Arabia.
Besides family support, the WTA also has a system in place to support players’ physical and emotional well-being. This is via a team of dedicated health and wellness professionals.
