WTA's Maternity Pay Plan Will Have 'Lasting Impact'

The WTA will offer players up to 12 months of paid maternity leave for the first time, the women's tennis tour said on March 6, as part of a sweeping new family benefits programme sponsored by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

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Under the plan, players will have access to grants for fertility treatment and other benefits. The WTA said it is the first time that maternity benefits are available to self-employed athletes.

"It can be challenging to balance the physical and emotional demands of a professional tennis career with the complexities of motherhood and family life," WTA chief executive Portia Archer said.

"For some time, we have been exploring how we can increase our support for players to help them become parents."

The WTA first announced its partnership with the PIF in 2024.

More than 320 players are eligible for the benefits, with criteria reliant on competing in a "certain number of WTA tournaments in a window of time".