Women tennis players are now eligible for paid maternity leave funded by Saudis
Pregnant players on women’s tennis trips can now receive 12 months of paid maternity leave, while those who become parents through partner pregnancy, surrogacy or adoption can receive two months of leave based on their salary, a program sponsored by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and announced by the WTA on Thursday.
“Independent contractors and self-employed people generally don’t offer these types of maternal benefits and can offer them. They have to go out and find out their own benefits,” said WTA CEO Portia Archer. “It’s really a novel and groundbreaking.”
More than 300 participants qualify for the fund, which dates back to January 1. The WTA will not disclose how much money is involved.
The program (WTA) touted as “the first time in women’s sports history, independent, self-employed athletes can use comprehensive maternal benefits”, which also provides grants for fertility treatments, including egg freezing and IVF.
This is part of a broader trend: As women’s movement grows, the focus is on meeting the needs of both maternal and parents.
How many mothers are now taking part in women’s tennis tours?
WTA says 25 mothers are very active. First, Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic won the championship after winning his maternity leave last month.
After having a baby, more and more tennis professionals have returned to the action, including past No. 1 players and Grand Slam champions such as Serena Williams, Naomi Big Wasca, Kim Kleisters, Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka.
Azarenka is a member of the WTA Players Council, which Archer acknowledged has played a key role in promoting the fund, and he believes these benefits will encourage lower or lower-profit athletes to feel they need to spend as much time as possible after becoming parents, rather than worrying about losing income while not participating in the tournament.
“This is undoubtedly one of the goals of the program: provide financial resources, flexibility, support so that these athletes, no matter where they rank, but especially those who make money, especially those who make money, will own the agency … to decide when and how to start the family.”
This could lead to some players deciding to become parents before quitting the sport, Azarenka said.
“Every feedback we hear from a mother or a player who is not a mother is like, ‘Wow, it’s an incredible opportunity for us,” Leo, son of 2012 and 13 Australian Open champion Azarenka, is 8 years old. But beyond the movement, it’s a global conversation and I’m glad we (part of it). ”
Other steps taken by the WTA for beneficiary participants in recent years include coaching more women to coach, implementing protection, trying to stop cyberbullying and increasing bonuses to pay, to pay equal to what men get in the sport.
What role does Saudi Arabia have in tennis?
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) became a global partner of the WTA last year, after many public debates – Hall of Fame Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova were among the critics – on issues about LGBTQ+ and Saudi Arabia’s women’s rights.
Kingdom is now hosting the end of the season WTA finals and the ATP event for men’s tennis stars. PIF sponsors WTA and ATP rankings.
“We wouldn’t be able to provide the benefits without this relationship and the funding provided by the PIF,” Archer said.
What are the maternity leave policies for golf, football and basketball?
On the golf course, like tennis, is an individual sport with no guaranteed salary, LPGA introduced an updated maternity leave policy in 2019, giving athletes the same game status when they come back.
In football, both the NWSL and the U.S. Women’s National Team reached a collective bargaining agreement that allows pregnancy leave and parental leave. NWSL pays all basic salary when an athlete becomes pregnant.
In basketball games, the WNBA’s CBA guarantees full salary during maternity leave.
For tennis, the PIF WTA maternity fund program is “just the beginning”, Azarenka said.
“It’s an incredible start. She said, a huge change. But I think we can look at how to expand this funding to achieve something bigger, better.”
