Women's Tennis Association create 'space safe' for players undergoing fertility treatment

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) will now protect rankings for athletes who undergofertility procedures like egg freezing or IVF. The new measure seeks to help women athletes “balance a professional sports career with planning and starting a family at a time of their choice”.

On June 11, 2025, the WTA announced its new Fertility Protection Special Entry Ranking rule. As of now, WTA players ranked within the top 750 in singles or doubles who undergo fertility procedures will have their ranking protected during their time off.

The WTA Rankings are typically based on a rolling 52-week, cumulative system. Player rankings are determined by their results at tournaments, with points awarded based on the level of the tournament and the player’s progression during the event.

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Eligible playersundergoing fertility procedures will now receive a Special Entry Ranking (SER) which will allow them to enter up to three tournaments. The SER will be calculated based on their average ranking during a 12-week period before and during their absence and can be used at events as high as WTA 500 (500 being the number of ranking points awarded to the champion).

WTA players must be out of competitionfor at least 10 consecutive weeks for a fertility protection procedure to be eligible for a SER. This is the same designation the WTA uses for players returning from long-term injury or pregnancy.

This specific development of the SER is a “further enhancement” of an existing package of benefits meant to empower players to “combine professional sport with family life”.

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The announcement comes a year after Sloane Stephens, the 2017 U.S. Open champion called for ranking protection after undergoing egg freezing. In a 2024 interview with the BBC, Stephens said that egg freezing is “a very involved process and I don’t think people understand that.”

In light of the WTA’s announcement, Stephens said she is “incredibly proud” that the sport is recognising the importance of fertility treatments for female athletes. She also praised the WTA for creating a “safe space” for current and future players to explore their options.

“It’s truly ground-breaking and will empower this generation, and future generations of players, to continue with the sport they love without having to compromise,” says Stephen.

Portia Archer, WTA CEO, said: “We understand that professional athletes can face a dilemma between focusing on their career and starting a family, and we are committed to supporting WTA players as they navigate and balance the choices associated with career and family.”

It was only in March 2025 that the WTA announced female players would finally receive paid maternity leave. The initiative marked the first time in women’s sports history that comprehensive maternity benefits are available to independent, self-employed athletes.

The Maternity Fund Program provides up to 12 months of paid leave for over 350 eligible players. The program is fully funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and grants are available for those seeking fertility treatments.