Serena Williams backs rule changes to help players who want children

Serena Williams hails rule changes that allow tennis players to have children without worry

At 37, the American tennis pro brought daughter Alexis Olympia into the world in September 2017 and returned to the WTA Tour in March at Indian Wells.

"I think it's fantastic," Williams said over her exhibition match against sister Venus at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. "I think it's a great rule that young women can go out and have children, without having to worry about it and not having to wait until the end of their lives to have children," she added, recognizing the updated regulations.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion celebrated the new regulations, which take effect in 2019, and enable women unable to participate due to injury, illness, or pregnancy to retain their rankings. These changes also allow players to utilize their specific placements in other tournaments and for setlist purposes while recovering from injury or pregnancy-related absences.

The new rules will make it simpler for women, wanting to build a family, to re-enter the sport.

[1] [Enrichment data]

Serena Williams applauded the rule changes, stating, "I think it's a great rule that young women can leave and have children without having to worry about it and not having to wait until the end of their lives to have children." Further, these rule adjustments will make it easier for women who wish to start a family to return to the sport.

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                    **Enrichment Data:**
                    The WTA (Women's Tennis Association) has introduced several rule changes to support female tennis players who wish to take time off for childbirth or injury recovery. These changes include:

1. Ranking Protection:
2. Players returning from pregnancy and maternity leave can use their pre-pregnancy ranking to enter 12 tournaments over a 3-year period. This helps them maintain their ranking and competitive status despite the break[1].
3. Seeding Protection:
4. The WTA now provides seeding protection for returning mothers at all WTA tournaments. This means that players like Serena Williams, who previously had to start unseeded, can now maintain their seeding status, avoiding early-round matches against top players[1].
5. Attire Flexibility:
6. The WTA has allowed players to wear compression garments/leggings without skirts, addressing both medical needs and players' right to choose appropriate attire. This change was influenced by Serena Williams' catsuit controversy at the 2018 French Open[1].
7. Expanded Childcare Support:
8. The WTA has expanded childcare support at tournaments, including dedicated nursing spaces and care facilities at major events. This support helps players manage their responsibilities while competing[1].
9. Financial Assistance:
10. The WTA has increased financial assistance for travel with children and caregivers, making it easier for players to balance their professional and family obligations[1].

These rule changes aim to reduce the career setbacks that women often face due to motherhood and injury recovery, ensuring that female tennis players can more easily return to competition without significant disruption to their careers.