Former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, who welcomed her son Leo in 2016, once advocated for the WTA to introduce maternity pay, stating, “I think the important part is to change the financial part of maternity leave. I think that would be a huge win for women in general.” And she wasn’t alone! Naomi Osaka, who became a mother in July 2023, also voiced her support, calling such a policy “life-changing” if implemented. Now, on International Women’s Day 2025, the WTA has finally taken a groundbreaking step by introducing a new maternity leave program. This long-overdue initiative has been met with widespread appreciation, including praise from the reigning AO champion, Madison Keys.
According to the latest reports, pregnant players on the WTA Tour can now receive up to ‘12 months of paid maternity leave,’ while those who become parents via partner pregnancy, surrogacy, or adoption are entitled to ‘two months of paid leave.’ This groundbreaking initiative, announced by the WTA on Thursday, is fully funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).” But what are the qualification criteria? Well, to qualify, the players must have participated in at least eight WTA events in the past 1 year or a minimum of 24 events over the past 36 months.
More than 320 players will be eligible for financial support, with all receiving the same undisclosed amount, regardless of their rankings. Importantly, athletes who decide not to return to the sport will not be required to repay the funds they have been allocated. Additionally, grants for fertility treatments will also be available, marking a significant step toward greater support for women in tennis. Shortly after her match against Anastasia Potapova in the BNP Paribas Open, Madison Keys shared her thoughts on this transformative policy.
Talking to the press at the Indian Wells, Maddie said, “I think being a female tennis player, we’re in a really unique position because we are pretty much the highest-paid athletes. It’s amazing that the WTA now has paid maternity leave. I think being an athlete and your job is your body and being able to kind of have that peace of mind is an amazing step forward. I’m very, very happy that the WTA has been able to do that. I’m not 100% sure what else there could be, but if I think of anything, I’ll definitely be talking to them about it,” she added.
Make that 1️⃣3️⃣ straight wins!@Madison_Keys rolls past Potapova 6-3 6-0 in her first match since the Australian Open.#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/cJfa6bmnzX
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 8, 2025
Even in 2019, the WTA provided a significant advantage to the returning mothers, handing them ranking protection and shielding them from seeded opponents in the initial round of their first eight competitions. This seeding safeguard intends to help top players ease back into competition without immediately clashing with tennis’s biggest names.
And what has been the impact of the rule? Monumental! Over the past six years, 50 WTA players have benefited from ranking protection, proving its significance in shaping a more inclusive and supportive tour. But the WTA’s commitment doesn’t stop there! New and expectant mothers can also gain access to a dedicated health team and task force, offering everything from physical assessments to mental health support and even personalized guidance for a staged return to play.
With the latest maternity leave as the groundbreaking initiative making waves, all eyes were on Madison Keys during her press conference, and she did acknowledge the significance of this massive change, but the World No. 5 also took a moment to reflect on her return to the court at Indian Wells.
“I kind of just settled in,” Madison Keys on her win at the Indian Wells
Six weeks after claiming her first GS title at Melbourne Park, Madison Keys returned dominantly at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The 5th seed showed no signs of rust, breezing past Anastasia Potapova 6-3, 6-0 in just 63 minutes. Winning 10 consecutive games, the American extended her career-best streak to 13 straight wins, second only to Danish Clara Tauson’s 15 this season.
Keys has been on fire in 2025, winning two back-to-back titles after making key changes to her game, including adjustments to her “racket” and service motion. Following the match against Potapova, she elucidated the challenges of making a comeback after an extended absence from the AO, owing to hamstring problems.
“I think there is obviously a little bit of extra nerves, and that’s just kind of the reality of the situation right now. But I think, being honest with myself and just knowing that that’s going to be there, I was able to expect it and kind of know how to navigate that. But, I mean, I think a day like today, after I was able to get off to a good start and then lose a few games in a row, I think once I was able to kind of level the score back, I kind of just settled in and felt a little bit more comfortable out there,” Maddie said.
The 30-year-old will next play the twenty-eighth seed, Elise Mertens, in the third round on Monday. Mertens advanced after defeating Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 7-5. Keys currently leads their head-to-head record by 3-2, setting the stage for another exciting match. Given her red-hot form and career-best winning streak, could Maddie go all the way and lift the trophy at Indian Wells? What do you think?
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