Serena Williams welcomes WTA rule change to protect new mothers

Serena Williams believes the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) decision to give greater ranking protection for new mothers is a “great rule change”.
On the back of Williams and fellow former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka’s return to competitive tennis after giving birth in recent years, the WTA has tweaked its rulebook.
Under the new rule, returning mothers or players coming back from injury can use their previous ranking to enter 12 tournaments over a three-year period.
Players will enter tournaments as an “additional seed”, which means they won’t face a seed in the opening round. However, that doesn’t mean it’s bad news for seeded players as they won’t get demoted under the new rule.
New WTA rules sees increased protection for returning mothers while Serena Williams and co will be allowed to wear catsuits, should they wish to do so https://t.co/SbzkPmX9vX
— Tennis365 (@T365Official) December 18, 2018
“I think it’s great,” Williams said. “Women that are younger can go out there and have kids and not have to worry about it and not have to wait ’til the twilight of their years to have children and I think it’s a really great rule.
“I think having gone through the experience myself really opened my eyes up to me and, ‘Would I have done it sooner had there been different rule changes?’ I don’t know. But now that there is an opportunity, people don’t have to ask that question anymore.
“I think it’s a great rule change. I think it is a lot. But I feel like it’s just something that’s always going to be there and be special and I’m happy that they did it.”
More from Tennis365:
-
-
Tennis betting preview: 2/1 Germans our Hopman hope despite Federer factor
-
Gallery of stars Down Under: Roger Federer with a western rock lobster, Naomi Osaka with a python
-
Quiz! Test your knowledge on the career of the legendary Bjorn Borg
-
EXCLUSIVE: Judy Murray identifies one reason why her sons have reached the top
-
Comment: Grigor Dimitrov’s disastrous year proves nothing is guaranteed for Alexander Zverev
-
Latest
-
WTA Tour
Toronto Masters: How to watch Emma Raducanu vs Camila Giorgi
Here’s how you can track Emma Raducanu at the Toronto Masters,
-
ATP Tour
Montreal Masters: How to watch Andy Murray vs Taylor Fritz
Andy Murray faces American No 1 Taylor Fritz in the opening round of the Montreal Masters.
-
WTA Tour
Silicon Valley Classic: Shelby Rogers chasing first title in showdown with Daria Kasatkina
Shelby Rogers will face Russian No 1 Daria Kasatkina in Sunday’s championship match.
-
ATP Tour
Nick Kyrgios on the brink of ending ATP Tour title drought
Nick Kyrgios is one win away from ending his three-year singles title drought.
-
ATP Tour
Daniil Medvedev claims first title of 2022 after downing Cameron Norrie
Medvedev moves up to fifth in the ATP Race To Turin thanks to the 250 points he has banked in Mexico.
-
ATP Tour
Montreal draw: Daniil Medvedev set for nightmare opener against Nick Kyrgios
Taylor Fritz faces Andy Murray in one of the highlights of the first round.
-
Tennis Features
How much is tennis legend John McEnroe worth?
John McEnroe owns several properties and continues to do broadcasting work.
-
News
Los Cabos: Cameron Norrie eye on third ATP Tour title of 2022
The British number one battled to a 6-4 3-6 6-3 victory in the semi-finals.
-
Tennis News
Citi Open: Nick Kyrgios marches on as Dan Evans is upset
Nick Kyrgios is chasing a repeat of 2019 and a first title since his last DC Triumph.
-
WTA Tour
Toronto draw: Stacked top quarter could be seeds graveyard
The Toronto Masters has no soft paths to glory.