Pregnant players during women in women's tennis can now receive 12 months of paid maternity leave, and those who became parents through partner pregnancy, surrogate or adoption can get two months free from remuneration, as part of a program sponsored by the Public Investment Fund in Saudi Arabia and announce on Thursday by WTA.
“Independent contractors and people conducting activities on their own usually do not have such maternity and available benefits. They have to go out and in a sense to come up with these benefits for themselves, “said Portia Archer, CEO of WTA. “This is really a kind of innovative and groundbreaking.”
Over 300 players qualify for the fund, with retrospective power until January 1. WTA will not reveal how much money is involved.
The program, which WTA advertised as “for the first time in the history of women's sport, that comprehensive maternity benefits are available to independent, self -employed athletes”, also provides subsidies for fertility treatment, including freezing eggs and IVF.
This is part of a wider trend: as women's sports increases, the pressure is placed on satisfying maternal and parental needs.
How many mothers are now on a trip for women in tennis?
WTA claims that 25 mothers are active on the route; First of all, the gold medalist from Tokyo Belinda Bencic won the title last month after returning from maternity leave in October.
More and more professionals in tennis returned to the action after having children, including previous players No. 1 and the winners of the Great Slam, such as Serena Williams, Naomi Osak, Kim Clijsters, Caroline Woźninak and Victoria Azarenka.
Azarenka, a member of the WTA players council, which Archer recognized, played a key role in insisting on this fund, believes that these benefits will encourage athletes with a lower position or a lower earning to take as much free time as they need after becoming a parent, instead of worrying about losing income, not enter tournaments.
“Great opportunity”
“This is certainly one of the goals of the program: providing financial resources, flexibility, support, so that these athletes, regardless of where the ranking is, but especially those who earn less will have this agency … to decide when and how they want to start their families,” said Archer.
And, said Azarenka, this may lead some players to the decision to become parents before moving on to a good withdrawal from sport.
“Every opinion that we have heard from players who are mothers or who are not mothers are:” WOW is an amazing opportunity for us, “said Australian Open 2012-13, Azarenka, whose son Leo is 8 years old.” I believe that this will really change the conversation in sport. But an offense beyond sport is a global conversation and I am happy that we are (part of this). “
Other steps she has taken in recent years to bring benefits to competitors include more women in coaching, implementing security, an attempt to stop cyberbullying and increasing the cash prize with a view to paying what men receive in this sport.
What role does Saudi Arabia play tennis?
The Public Investment Fund or PIF became the Global WTA partner last year, after many public debates – Hall of Famers Chris Evert and Martin Navratilov were among critics – on questions about LGBTQ+ and women's laws in Saudi Arabia.
The kingdom is now the WTA final ending the season and ATP event for emerging men's tennis stars. PIF sponsors WTA and ATP rankings.
“We would not be able to provide benefits were it not for this relationship and financing that PIF provides,” said Archer.
What are maternity leave in Golf, football and basketball?
- In Golf, which, like tennis, is an individual sport without guaranteed salaries, LPGA introduced an updated maternity leave policy in 2019, which allows athletes to have the same game status after returning.
- In football, both the NWSL national team and American women have collective negotiating agreements that allow pregnancy and parental leave; NWSL pays full basic salary while the athlete is pregnant.
- In basketball, CBA WNBA guarantees full remuneration during maternity leave.
Azarenka said that for tennis PIF WTA Matnity Fund is “just the beginning.”
“This is an amazing beginning. Monumental change, “she said. “But I think we can check how we can expand this fund to larger, better things.”