Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka believes women’s tennis needs to look at the wider picture amid calls from some to change their maternity policy.
A debate has erupted over the protection of a players ranking whilst they are absent due to pregnancy. It has been triggered by Serena Williams’ return, who is currently ranked 491st in the world. In the first round of the Miami Open she was drawn to take on Indian Wells champion Naomi Osaka, which she lost in straight sets.
Miami Open tournament director James Blake has called for the WTA to change their policy to protect the seeding of players like Williams. Prior to her maternity, she was ranked No.1 in the world.
“For someone who goes on maternity break, they should be protected. These kind of things shouldn’t happen. She has won this (Miami) title so many times that she needs protection.” Said Blake.
Despite the calls, Azarenka believes that the system should be looked at from both perspectives. The 28-year-old missed 12 months of the tour between 2016-2017 to welcome the arrival of her first child. A baby boy called Leo. Speaking to reporters after her win over Cici Bellis in Miami, Azarenka has insisted that any potential change to the rules must be fair to all players and not a select few.
“It’s a sensitive area in the way that I look at it from two perspectives, because the conversation started because of Serena and all respect to her, if we look at her achievements and where she’s come from, where I come from, it might be a fair choice that we do have a seeding in the tournaments after coming back.” Said Azarenka.
“On the other perspective that I have to look at, as well, is the other players who worked really hard throughout the years and will be losing that seeding. It’s a difficult question, because if we do make that rule, it will have to be for everybody. In terms of the people who we are talking about, you know, it’s an exception, and there can be rules to exceptions, but they need to be — rules need to be for everybody.”
The tour needs to be objective
Former world No.66 Mandy Minella recently returned to the tour after giving birth. During an interview with the BBC, the Luxembourg player has dismissed calls for changes to the new rules. Arguing that there would be no conversation about making changes if the player wasn’t Williams.
“The rule should stay as it is,” said Minella.
“I don’t think we would be talking about this if it wasn’t Serena,” said the 32-year-old. “There are many players who have been out because of pregnancy and there will be many more.”
There is one area that Azarenka would like to see change for new mothers on the tour. That is for the time limit concerning maternity leave and protected rankings to be lifted. It is understood that these issues will be discussed at upcoming player council meetings, which Azarenka is a member of.
“I don’t think there should be a limit on the maternity leave as the same as injury.“ She said.
“I don’t think that going and starting a family you have the same pressure of two years to be able to come back and use your protected ranking. I think that’s the part of the conversation that needs to be extended, and that was my point of view.
“Because, you know, two years, it takes ten months for pregnancy and you have a year to come back. It’s a lot of pressure for somebody. Somebody’s eager to go out there and start playing right away. Somebody’s not.”
There is yet to be any comment from the WTA about calls to change their maternity policy.
