WTA offer more protection to players returning from maternity leave and give Serena Williams catsuit green light

WTA offer more protection to players returning from maternity leave and give Serena Williams catsuit green light

The Women's Tennis Association have put in place further advantages for players returning from maternity leave in future but have stopped short of granting protected seedings.

The issue became a talking point last year following Serena Williams' return six months after giving birth to daughter Olympia.

While Williams was able to use her protected ranking to enter as many as eight tournaments without qualifying over a 12-month period, the 23-times grand slam champion was not guaranteed to be seeded.

After canvassing opinion from players this year, the women's governing body of tennis have tweaked the ruling to offer further protection for returning mothers.

In future, players returning from maternity leave will now be able to use their previous ranking to enter 12 tournaments over a three-year period. This ruling also applies to those returning from a long-term injury.

Simona Halep felt Serena Williams should have been handed the top seed upon her return Credit: Getty Images

Simona Halep, the year-end world No 1, said earlier this year Serena Williams should have been top-seed at the Indian Wells where she made her competitive return last March.

Miami Open director, James Blake, was another who spoke out passionately about the need for protected seedings.

"It’s not as if she (Serena Williams) left because of injury and lost her passion for the game. She had a kid, which we should all be celebrating, so when she comes back there should be a grace period where she can still be seeded," he said.

The WTA will guarantee those returning mothers will not face a seeded player in the tournament's opening round. It will be at the discretion of tournament directors whether to hand returning players a seeding. 

Williams was unseeded for the French Open, her first grand slam since her comeback, but was made 32nd seed at Wimbledon by the All England Club. 

The WTA will also leggings and compression tights to be worn, with or without a skirt Credit: Getty Images

Among other tweaks to the 2019 rule changes include the wearing of leggings or compression shorts.

Williams wore a black catsuit at this year's French Open which led to French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli promising stricter rules next year. 

The WTA have not taken a draconian approach, saying: "Leggings and mid-thigh-length compression shorts may be worn with or without a skirt, shorts, or dress".

Players will also be allowed just one bathroom break per match, while main draw singles players who withdraw before the start of qualifying and their opening match are eligible to receive 100 per cent of the prize money given to first-round losers.

Originally Posted On
Telegraph.com