Is funded by Saudi Arabia, women’s tennis players to receive the salary of motherhood for the first time

Pregnant players on women’s tennis tour can now get 12 months of paid maternal leave, and those who become parents through partner pregnancy, surrogate or adoption can get two months of vacation with a salary, within a program sponsored by the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and on Thursday announced WTA.

“Independent performers and self -employed individuals usually do not have such maternal benefits that are provided to them and at their disposal. They have to come out and somehow understand these benefits for themselves,” said WTA Portia Archer CEO. “This is a really kind of novel and revolutionary.”

More than 300 players are eligible for the Fund, retroactive by January 1. WTA would not reveal how much money was included.

The program, which WTA published as “for the first time in the history of female sports that comprehensive mother benefits are available to independent, self -employed athletes”, also provides support for fertility treatments, including the freezing of eggs and IVF.

This is part of the wider trend: as women’s sports are increasing, the emphasis is on meeting maternal and parent needs.

How many mothers are now on a woman’s tennis tour?

WTA says 25 moms are active on tour; One, gold medal of the Belinda Bencic Olympics, won the title last month after returning from maternity leave in October.

More and more professionals in tennis have returned to action after they had children, including the past players with 1 ranked and winners of the Grand Slam title, such as Serena Williams, Naomi Osak, Kim Clijsters, Caroline Woziniacki and Victoria Azarenka.

Azarenka, a member of the WTA player for whom Archer admitted to playing a key role in pushing this fund, believes that these benefits will encourage athletes with lower ranking or lower earnings to separate as much time as they think they should after becoming a parent, not worrying about losing revenue, rather than entering the tournaments.

‘Great Opportunity’

“This is certainly one of the goals of the program: to provide funding, flexibility, support, so these athletes, no matter where they are ranked, but especially those who make less money, will have that agency … to decide when and how they want to start their families,” Archer said.

And, Azarenko said, that could lead to some players decide to become parents before they withdraw from sports forever.

“Any feedback we have heard from players who are mothers or who are not mothers are like:” Alas, this is an amazing opportunity for us, “said Australian Open Champion 2012-13 Azarenko, whose son, Leo, 8 years. [part of it]. “

Other steps WTA has taken in recent years to use players include managing more women in training, conducting protection, attempting to stop Cyber ​​-Maltrement and increase reward money with the eye to pay for what men get in sports.

What role does Saudi Arabia in tennis play?

The Public Investment Fund or PIF became a global partner of WTA last year, after critics were many public discussions – Hall of Famers Chris Evert and Martin Navratilova – because of LGBTQ+ and women’s rights in Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom now hosts the WTA finals for the end of the season and the ATP event for the stars of the men’s tennis tennis. PIF sponsor WTA and ATP rankings.

“We would not be able to give the benefits if they were not for this relationship and the financing PIF provides,” Archer said.

What are motherhood policies in golf, football and basketball?

• In Golf, who, like tennis, is an individual sport without guaranteed wages, LPGA introduced an updated motherhood policy in 2019 that allows athletes to have the same play status when they return.
• In football, both NWSL and the American women’s national team have collective negotiating agreements that allow pregnancy and parental leave; NWSL pays a full basic salary while the athlete is pregnant.
• In basketball, WNBA CBA guarantees full salary during maternity leave.

For tennis, Azarenko said, PIF WTA’s motherhood program is “just the beginning”.

“It’s an amazing start. The monumental change,” she said. “But I think we can consider how we can expand this fund for bigger, better things.”