Women’s tennis players obtain parental benefits, a paid maternal leave

Victoria Azarenka

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Victoria Azarenka is a notable figure in professional women’s tennis, winning the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013 in addition to scoring two Olympic medals.

Azarenka and her former boyfriend, Billy McKeague, welcomed a son named Leo in 2016. She announced her pregnancy with an X Post in July, saying that she was “really inspired by female athletes who return to the top of their sport after having children, and I plan to do exactly that”.

She returned to the Court in 2017 and won her first game, according to the BBC. Two years later, the Belarusian athlete told the point of sale that she thought that falling pregnant would end her career.

“I was afraid, it was not easy,” she told the point of sale. “I knew I was going to come back, but my first thought was:” Oh my God, I will never play tennis again. “”

However, said that she felt “stronger” after giving birth.

“I am sure that many women will not be able to identify me, but I felt so much better after (pregnancy),” she said. “I felt so much stronger physically, and my body became so much better. I had the impression that my body had finally become a woman.”

Azarenka publicly put pressure on parental advantages for players from the Association of Tennis Women. She and Serena Williams were one of those who campaigned to protect the classification of players who go on maternity leave. The association updated its policies in 2019 on maternity rankings and leave.

She then pleaded for the maternity ward of the members of Women’s Tennis Association in an interview in 2024 with BBC Sports.

“There is much more to change, and I hope we are on the right track to do so,” said Azarenka at the point of sale. “I think the important part is to change the financial part of maternity leave. I think it would be a huge victory for women in general, so I hope we will find the resources to be able to do it. I think it would be incredible.”

Azarenka said players with a lower classification could benefit from such a policy.

“I suppose, I suppose, more financial security than some players who can be outside the Top 100 and who may have the same desires and ambitions to have a child and continue to do their job,” she said.