Latest news with #tennisplayers
The Guardian
a day ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Top 750 WTA players to receive protected ranking for fertility procedures
Tennis players who choose to take time off in order to undergo fertility protection procedures, such as egg or embryo freezing, will be permitted to receive a protected ranking according to new rules announced by the Women's Tennis Association. Players ranked inside the top 750 on the WTA who undergo fertility procedures will be eligible to receive a Special Entry Ranking (SER) allowing them to enter up to three tournaments. The SER will be calculated using their average ranking during a 12-week period before and during their absence and can be used up to WTA 500 events. A growing number of players are opting to take time away from the sport in order to give birth or actively plan their families during their careers. At the urging of the players, over the past few years the WTA has taken significant steps towards addressing these issues, helping to provide players with options to plan their families while competing at the highest level. Earlier this year, the organisation announced that it would offer players paid maternity leave. Those who take time away from the tour to give birth are also able to use their previous ranking to enter 12 tournaments over three years from the birth of their child. Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, has twice used the short tennis off-season to freeze her eggs. 'During my first retrieval cycle, I ended up gaining around 20lbs due to hormones and taking a break from training that, going forward, I would be more aware of and plan differently for my next cycle this off-season,' the American told Essence last year. 'It is also important to rest and not over-exert yourself, at the risk of developing ovarian torsion or other complications, so I had to really plan out my training blocks and off-season to make it all happen. Because of this, I am really passionate about introducing protected rankings for players undergoing fertility treatments so that they can feel supported in making decisions for themselves and properly caring for their bodies without rushing back out of fear of ranking points or career setbacks. ' In a statement on Wednesday, Stephens hailed the WTA's new ruling: '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. The WTA has now created a safe space for players to explore options and to make the best decisions for themselves. It's truly groundbreaking and will empower this generation, and future generations of players, to continue with the sport they love without having to compromise.'
Washington Post
a day ago
- Health
- Washington Post
Women's tennis adds ranking protection for fertility procedures such as egg or embryo freezing
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Professional tennis players who take time off from competition for a fertility procedure such as egg or embryo freezing will have their ranking protected under a WTA Tour policy announced Wednesday. This follows the introduction in March of paid maternity leave and grants for fertility protection measures in women's tennis.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Coco Gauff: Tennis star forgets racquets at French Open match
Have you ever turned up to school or an event and forgotten something really important? It happens to the best of us, including 2023 US Open tennis champion Coco star turned up to court at the French Open ready to play her first round of the tournament only to find she'd forgotten to pack something pretty key to playing the game... her tennis racquets! It didn't stop the world number two beating her opponent Olivia Gadecki once she had her hands on the right kit though. We want to know if you've ever forgotten anything important? Let us know in the comments below! Luckily, everyone saw the funny side of Coco's mistake and once she had a racquet in hand, she had no trouble beating Australia's Olivia Gadecki 6-2 6-2 in just 71 her empty bag to her team and showing them where her racquets should have been, Gauff was able to laugh about the issue with Gadecki before a ball kid delivered the game she joked: "The most important thing is to play with a racquet. So [after finding them] I was getting through the first step."After that, it probably relaxed me going into the match, because it was just such a funny thing."I'm just happy to get through today and I will remember my racquets for next time."
