Women's Tennis Association Provides Ranking Protection for Female Players Undergoing Fertility Treatments - Family-Friendly Action Taken by WTA
Fresh Spin:
Embracing Motherhood on the Court: The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) puts moms first!
WTA steps up to assist moms and moms-to-be in the top-tier women's circuit, offering them a lifeline to juggle careers and family life with ease.
Enter the Special Entry Ranking (SER) — a revolutionary solution for players opting for fertility treatments like egg or embryo freezing. Why? So they can take a well-deserved break of up to 10 weeks, while still keeping their spot on the court in up to three tournaments at WTA 125, 250, and 500 level events.
As the WTA expresses in a recent announcement: "Empowering women athletes to balance a professional sports career with family planning at their convenience is crucial. This new ranking protection is a big step in the right direction." 🎾🤱
This forward-thinking initiative forms part of the WTA's Family Focus Program, which already offers an array of family-friendly perks: ranking protection during pregnancies, postpartum support, and maternity leave for up to 12 months (yep, you read that right!).
Slamming it home is 2017 U.S. Open champ Sloane Stephens, who openly spoke about her personal egg-freezing journey. Praising the WTA's recent move, she says: "The WTA recognizes the significance of fertility treatments for female athletes, paving the way for players to make informed decisions about their future family and career."
Tennis players need not worry about their rankings sliding while they focus on family matters. The newly introduced SER will be determined by a player's average ranking from eight weeks prior to the out-of-competition period. 📊
Through these groundbreaking measures, the WTA is helping female tennis stars strike a perfect balance between the thrill of the game and the joy of motherhood. Today, the tennis court extends a warm welcome to mommies and future mommies across the globe! 💪❤️🏆
- In the top-tier women's circuit, it's now possible to take a break for up to 10 weeks for fertility treatments without losing one's spot in tournaments at WTA 125, 250, and 500 level events, thanks to the introduction of the Special Entry Ranking (SER).
- Sloane Stephens, the 2017 U.S. Open champion, commends the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for recognizing the importance of fertility treatments for female athletes, stating that this move allows players to make informed decisions about their future family and career.
- The WTA's Family Focus Program has expanded to include the new SER, which ensures a player's ranking remains stable during an out-of-competition period for fertility treatments, calculated using their average ranking from eight weeks prior to the break.
- By providing ranking protection for players during pregnancies, postpartum support, and maternity leave of up to 12 months, alongside the Special Entry Ranking, the WTA is fostering an environment where tennis and motherhood can coexist, catering to the needs of women in sports and health-and-wellness, as well as fitness-and-exercise and womens-health, thereby empowering them to achieve success both on and off the court.
