Women tennis players to get paid maternity leave
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) is to provide up to 12 months of paid maternity leave to players who become pregnant.
The package is financed by the association's global partner, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The WTA said it was the first time a comprehensive package of maternity benefits had been made available to independent, self-employed athletes.
As well as the financial support, it will give more than 320 eligible players access to grants for fertility treatment.
Those who become parents via partner pregnancy, surrogacy or adoption can get two months of paid leave.
The WTA said it was "the first time in women's sports history that comprehensive maternity benefits are available to independent, self-employed athletes".
"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," said WTA chief Portia Archer.
"This is really sort of novel and groundbreaking."
Saudi Arabia has invested billions of pounds in sport across the world through its Public Investment Fund, which critics have argued is a part of an attempt to sanitise its image and distract from its human rights record.
The kingdom claims the investments have boosted its gross domestic product (GDP).
Victoria Azarenka, the former world number one who sits on the WTA Players' Council and has an eight-year-old son, said: "I'm honoured to introduce this programme, driven by players, and made possible with the support of PIF and the WTA.
"This marks the beginning of a meaningful shift in how we support women in tennis, making it easier for athletes to pursue both their careers and their aspirations of starting a family.
"Ensuring that programmes like this exist has been a personal mission of mine, and I'm excited to see the lasting impact it will have for generations to come."
Azarenka is one of several players who have returned to the tour after having children.
Belinda Bencic and Petra Kvitova are the most recent new mothers to resume their careers.
Around 50 players have benefited from a special ranking protecting their previous level, which was introduced in 2019 and can be used for up to three years after giving birth.
-SKY NEWS
