The Women’s Tennis Association has become the first international sports body to introduce up to 12 months of paid maternity leave for players, in what it has hailed as a defining moment for women’s sport.
Under the new policy, funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, players will also get access to grants for fertility treatments, including egg freezing and IVF.
The WTA said that at least 320 of the world’s top players would be entitled to access the fund, which also includes two months of paid leave to anyone who becomes a parent via partner pregnancy, surrogacy or adoption.
The two-times grand slam winner Victoria Azarenka, who is a representative on the WTA players’ council, told the Guardian that the response from her colleagues to the new WTA PIF Maternity Fund programme had been “incredible”.
“The players are extremely excited and some were really surprised that we are creating this,” she said. “The feedback from players has actually been incredible. And it is incredibly motivating that we can make the difference. It’s also important to point out this was a player-led programme and we really pushed very hard to make it happen.”
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The 35-year-old – who has a son, Leo, born in 2016 – said it had been a long battle to set up a programme that she hoped would be a model for other sports, as well as sparking global conversations.
“I absolutely believed this day would come,” she added. “It took a lot of work, even if I thought in the beginning it wouldn’t take this long. I was getting quite impatient, so I am very proud that we are here. I strongly feel this is just the beginning.
“This type of programme will also open global conversations about how important family planning, maternity leave, parental leave is. Because one way or another, almost everyone gets to experience this, if they wish to.”
To receive assistance, players will need to have competed in a minimum of eight WTA tournaments, including grand slams, in the previous 12 months, at least four of which must be at WTA 250 level or above.
Players who have played a minimum of 24 WTA tournaments on the WTA Tour over the previous 36 months, at least 12 of which must be at WTA 250 level or above, will also be entitled to help.
The same amount will be paid to each player regardless of ranking, with the exact sum dependent on whether they fit the first or second criteria.
It is still relatively rare for active players on the WTA tour to have children, although there are several currently in the world’s top 100, including Azarenka, Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina, Caroline Wozniacki, Belinda Bencic and Taylor Townsend.
The WTA chief executive, Portia Archer, said the programme would give more players the flexibility to choose when they wanted to start their family life.
“They can do so at a time of their choosing now, and they have some agency, because they have the financial resources, benefits, flexibility and the support to be able to make that decision,” she said. “It is important for players across the ranking profile, but we do think that it will have great impact and be quite transformational for players who are not earning at the highest levels in the sport.”
Archer also said it was another example of the WTA, which was founded by Billie Jean King in 1973, leading the way when it comes to women’s sport.
“This is really is a groundbreaking initiative that hasn’t been made available in women’s sports for players and athletes who are self-employed – so-called independent contractors,” she said. “And this comprehensive set of benefits for paid maternity leave, paid parental leave, grants for fertility preservation also has never been made available.”
“So we’re excited at the WTA to launch this. We have been in the business of trailblazing and being the first many times. And we’re excited to be in this position again.”
Archer also denied suggestions that partnering with the investment arm of the Saudi government could send mixed messages, given that human rights groups such as Amnesty International report that women continue to face discrimination in law and in practice.
“From the very beginning, PIF has been very supportive of our ambition to create this comprehensive programme,” she said. “They’ve been very eager to partner and collaborate with us. They are funding the programme, which is a high priority for our players. And I think it will be a great opportunity for the WTA to leverage the power of sport to provide empowerment and to progress women.”
Alanoud Althonayan, head of events and sponsorships at PIF, echoed Archer’s sentiments. “PIF partnerships are designed to elevate every level of sport and leave a legacy of transformative impact on a global scale,” she said. “Our partnership with WTA is built on a shared ambition, aligned with PIF’s vision, purpose and values.”
