The WTA CEO and chairman, Steve Simon, announced on Monday a set of measures adapted to players returning from pregnancy or an injury that causes a long absence.
“A player with a protected pregnancy ranking has a period of 3 years [against 2 previously] to use this protected classification, which starts now at the birth of the child,” Simon said.
“These changes are designed to fully support the players in their return to competition, while maintaining the highest standards of athletic competition and fairness.” Simon added.
From now on, the “protected classification” can be started during twelve tournaments, instead of eight previously, during absences greater than 52 weeks.
Victoria Azarenka, a member of the WTA Players’ Council, said she wants to make sure the WTA is the most progressive and inclusive association in sports.
“I am very happy with the new rules of the WTA. Our players should feel more comfortable and confident to take the time to get away from the courts to start a family or recover from an injury. This is a very good first step,” Azarenka said.
It was at French Open that this issue had grown. Back from pregnancy in mid-2018, a seven-time champion Serena Williams then played her first Grand Slam tournament for sixteen months.
Falling to 451st place in the world, Paris organizers decide not to award her a seed. The result is a questioning of the rules of the WTA, which led to the decisions published on Monday.
Serena Williams banned from wearing black bodysuit by French Open this year. (Source:www.tvnz.co.nz)
Williams had also been at the center of another controversy at French Open, around her black bodysuit. The WTA has ruled that leggings and compression shorts can be worn with or without skirts, shorts or dresses.
However, the 23 time Grand Slam champion admitted she wore the compression suit because of a history of blood clots, including after childbirth.
“I returned to surgery, where the doctors found a large hematoma, a swelling of clotted blood, in my abdomen. And then I returned to the operating room for a procedure that prevents clots from traveling to my lungs.” Williams said.
Simon, meanwhile, said WTA understood the importance of modernising the dress code to the players.
“There is no prohibition on these subjects. We understand the importance of modernising the dress code and ensuring that our players have the flexibility to choose the clothes they wear,” Simon said.
