As a BBC tennis correspondent, I reflect on the remarkable achievements of female tennis players who have excelled in the sport while embracing motherhood. Margaret Court set a historic precedent 51 years ago by clinching three Grand Slam titles in a single year as a mother.
Following Court’s trailblazing success, Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Kim Clijsters also triumphed in Grand Slam events post-parenthood. Serena Williams, a formidable competitor, came close to matching this feat, reaching four major finals after the birth of her daughter, Olympia.
The landscape of professional tennis post-maternity leave has evolved positively since the WTA’s reforms in 2019. New mothers now have the privilege of using their pre-maternity rankings to enter 12 tournaments within a three-year timeframe after giving birth.
Victoria Azarenka, a former world number one and a mother to son Leo, advocates for maternity pay within the WTA. She stresses the significance of financial support for female players, particularly those ranked outside the top 100, who seek to balance motherhood with their athletic pursuits.
Naomi Osaka, a distinguished four-time Grand Slam champion, echoes Azarenka’s call for financial security and expanded opportunities for mother athletes to navigate their professional careers alongside motherhood.
Despite discussions led by WTA chief executive Steve Simon on maternity benefits, there have been no recent updates following last year’s WTA Finals.
Since 2019, mothers rejoining the tour with a special seeding privilege are guaranteed to avoid facing seeded opponents in the initial rounds of their first eight tournaments. This seeding advantage aims to ensure fair competition by preventing top players from meeting early in the events.
Serena Williams has openly expressed feeling disadvantaged upon her return to tennis in 2018 after giving birth. She highlighted her experience at the French Open, where she was not seeded despite holding a special ranking due to the limitations of the existing rules at that time.
Tatjana Maria, a standout semi-finalist at Wimbledon 2022, is among the seven mothers who competed in the main draw at this year’s Indian Wells. She advocates for the implementation of maternity pay in tennis, aligning with global labor standards that advocate for compensation during pregnancy.
Maria also emphasizes the need for childcare facilities on the WTA Tour to support professional mothers. While some tournaments like Stuttgart and Madrid offer daycare services, there is a growing demand for widespread childcare support across all tour events.
The WTA recognizes the increasing presence of mothers on the tour and is dedicated to providing resources to help players balance parenthood with the rigors of professional tennis. The organization is committed to supporting the health, performance, and overall well-being of players, offering comprehensive care during pregnancy and the postpartum period.