WTA to Offer Tennis Players Paid Maternity Leave as Part of New Saudi-Sponsored Fund

The WTA is offering its players paid maternity leave for the first time as part of its partnership with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.

In an announcement on Thursday, the WTA said pregnant players on the tour can receive 12 months of paid maternity leave. The organization is also offering two months of paid leave for those who become parents via partner pregnancy, surrogacy or adoption.

WTA CEO Portia Archer said in a separate statement that this is a "groundbreaking" moment for the players in the sport.

"Independent contractors and self-employed individuals don't typically have these kinds of maternity benefits provided and available to them. They have to go out and sort of figure out those benefits for themselves," Archer explained. "This is really sort of novel and groundbreaking."

The WTA says there are currently 25 active players who are mothers. Serena Williams was involved in one of the famous pregnancy announcements in April 2017 when she posted a picture on Instagram with the caption "20 weeks."

Some quick reverse math determined that Williams was roughly two months pregnant with her first child when she won the Australian Open in January.

Other notable players who have given birth in the last few years include Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka.

The WTA and Saudi Public Investment Fund announced a multiyear partnership in May 2024 that is intended to "enhance and develop initiatives to support players at all levels."