In an empowering move, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has officially implemented ranking protection for women's tennis players who pursue fertility treatments, including egg or embryo freezing.

The pioneering policy guarantees that players can prioritize family planning without threatening their careers or ranking.

New WTA Rule Supports Fertility Treatments

WTA Introduces Ranking Protection for Female Tennis Players Freezing Eggs WTA Introduces Ranking Protection for Female Tennis Players Freezing Eggs
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According to The Guardian, the WTA will now permit any player ranked among the top 750 to hold a protected ranking in case they are out for over 10 weeks because of fertility treatments. This move is meant to ease the stress on players to return to the court hastily and risk their health for the love of competition.

Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open winner and vocal proponent of athletes' reproductive health, welcomed the change. Stephens, who announced that she had had egg freezing done twice, spoke about how the lack of protection affected her healing and performance.

"So having the protected ranking there, so that players don't feel forced to come back early and risk their health again, is the best thing possible."
Stephens told BBC Sport.

How Will Ranking Protection Work

A protected ranking will be computed in a specially protected category under this policy based on a player's mean rank in the last 12 weeks before his or her absence.

Protected players can utilize such a status to enter a maximum of three tournaments within 10 weeks of his or her return. This exemption, however, does not include WTA 1000 events, since the association prefers players to have procedures done during quieter periods.

Portia Archer, WTA Chief Executive, talked about the significance of the player-driven initiative, saying that they want to assist athletes in resolving the dilemma of optimal fertility coinciding with optimal sporting performance.

Grants and Maternity Leave More Empower Women

In addition to ranking protection, the WTA has added money grants to cover the expense of fertility procedures. Further, since early 2024, the organization has provided maternity leave pay, 12 months' benefits, to over 320 qualified players, independent of ranking.

It builds on the momentum begun with the 2019 rule revision, enabling new mothers to utilize their past rankings to compete in 12 tournaments within three years of giving birth. These changes evidence the WTA's overall commitment to empowering women athletes along motherhood and fertility paths.

Athletes Welcome the Initiative

Madison Keys, the Australian Open winner, hailed the change as "absolutely amazing," saying it brings players confidence and reassurance in handling family planning.

German star Tatjana Maria, also a mother of two, greeted the change but called on the WTA to keep enhancing practical support for mothers on tour, like improved hotel quarters and access at events.

WTA Joins a Growing Trend in Sports

The WTA is being followed by other progressive organizations such as the WNBA, which provides up to $60,000 in fertility-related procedures, including egg freezing, as reimbursements. Top sportswomen such as England cricket captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and netball icon Geva Mentor have also spoken publicly about their fertility journeys, doing much to de-stigmatize reproductive health for athletes.