Female tennis players will receive special rankings after undergoing fertility treatment in new initiative - as former US Open champion opens up on 'stressful' experience

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

Women's tennis players will now received protected rankings during periods where they undergo fertility treatment, according to a new announcement.
The WTA, the sport's governing body broke new ground in March when they announced that they would be ensuring that their players would be eligible to receive maternity pay and 'comprehensive benefits' thanks to a new initiative between the organisation and their partner the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The controversial financial agreement with the Gulf state's sovereign wealth fund is just over a year old, and the initiative was the first of significance with the PIF as the tour's 'exclusive global partner'.
An estimated 320 players on the women's tour became eligible for paid maternity leave of up to 12 months under the new regulations, as well as grants for fertility treatments, such as egg freezing, and additional benefits.
But the WTA have now extended their PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program to ensure that players undergoing egg or embryo freezing do not see their rankings under fire amid potentially seismic physical change.
Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens shared her outspoken support of the programme as she opened up on her own experience of undergoing the challenges of playing through recovery.
'The first time I did it, I rushed back and I was overweight and not happy - and just very stressed out,' Stephens told the BBC, sharing that she had undergone treatment twice during the off-season. 'The second time I did it I took a totally different approach so I could just be in better shape: I could have the surgery, I could have more time to recover.
'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.'
'It's all trial and error, everyone's body is different. Someone might be out for three months, someone might be out for one week.
'Some people gain a tonne of weight, some people can go back immediately. I think when you are family planning, it's better if you have that support.'
The protected ranking will be available to any of the top 750-ranked players, and allow them to compete in three tournaments with the special ranking within 10 weeks of returning to the tour.
However, this will not extend to the tour's flagship tournaments, the Masters 1000s.
WTA chief executive Portia Archer confirmed that the decision to enhance the existing program came at the request of the players in a statement shared by the WTA.
Protected rankings are also available for players during pregnancy and postpartum for up to three years after giving birth.
Although these protected rankings predate PIF's involvement with WTA, as independent contractors, female tennis stars have had few other financial protections when taking time out from the tour.
But the WTA's partnership with the PIF has not been without challenges, with players at the WTA Finals at the end of last year repeatedly asked to confront the seeming incompatibility of the deal due to Saudi's poor record on women's rights.
Eventual winner of the tournament Coco Gauff admitted that she had been 'concerned' when the location of the Finals had been announced, and that she had spent time talking to women in Saudi Arabia to discuss human rights issued ahead of participating.
With the Finals set to be staged in Riyadh for at least two more years, Gauff was also open that her participation would not be guaranteed if she qualified.
'If I felt uncomfortable or it felt like nothing's happening, then I probably wouldn't come back,' the former US Open champion added.