'BEGINNING OF A MEANINGFUL SHIFT': WTA INTRODUCE NEW MATERNITY LEAVE BENEFITS

(Getty / Robert Prange)

In a first for the sport, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) will grant 12 months of paid maternity leave, described as a "first-of-its-kind initiative".

The program will be sponsored by the wealthy Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) to provide players with reassurance and support.

It also opens doors for grants concerning fertility treatment and other added benefits included in the plan.

"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 explained.

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

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Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka was one of the first players to express her gratitude towards the WTA.

Azarenka gave birth to her son Leo in December 2016 before making a comeback to the professional circuit.

"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," the former world No.1 said in a statement.

"Ensuring that programs like this exist has been a personal mission of mine."

Former world No.4 Belinda Bencic and dual Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitová are two recent examples of women opting to pick up a racquet again after starting a family.

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