Tennis star Sloane Stephens has championed the WTA Tour’s new fertility support initiative, declaring it transformative for women’s sports by enabling athletes to pursue family planning without career sacrifice. The program, funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, provides grants and ranking protection for players undergoing fertility treatments.
Sloane Stephens, the 32-year-old 2017 US Open champion, is the central voice advocating for these changes. Having undergone egg freezing twice herself, she has become a key resource for peers navigating similar decisions about balancing athletic careers with family planning. Other players like world No. 4 Jessica Pegula have also explored fertility options, while mothers on tour including Naomi Osaka and Elina Svitolina benefit from broader support systems.
The WTA Tour’s landmark initiative offers financial grants for egg/embryo freezing and IVF treatments, coupled with paid maternity leave and crucial ranking protection. This ensures players can take necessary medical time without penalty to their professional standing. Stephens played a pivotal role in shaping these policies through her advocacy work on the WTA Players’ Council, drawing from personal experience with the physical and emotional challenges of fertility treatments.
The program launched recently, with Stephens’ comments coming in an August 2025 CNN interview. Her advocacy stems from decisions made as she approached age 30, wanting to extend her tennis career while preserving future family options. The timing aligns with growing recognition of female athletes’ unique biological clocks and career constraints.
This support operates globally across the WTA Tour, impacting players worldwide. Stephens emphasized its universal relevance during her CNN interview, noting that fertility challenges transcend geographical boundaries in professional sports. The initiative sets a precedent for tennis as the first sport to systematically address this need.
The program addresses a critical dilemma: female athletes often delay family planning due to career demands, risking age-related fertility decline. Without institutional support, treatments require significant time off that jeopardizes rankings and income. Stephens described her first egg-freezing experience as grueling, causing 15-pound weight gain and premature return to competition. The new safeguards provide security that didn’t previously exist.
Implementation followed Stephens’ personal journey through two egg-freezing procedures, which she shared openly with peers. The WTA partnered with Saudi Arabia’s PIF for funding while incorporating player feedback into policies like ranking protection. Stephens stressed individualized approaches, noting ‘everyone’s bodies take differently to medications and procedures,’ with the system allowing flexible timelines for recovery.
The initiative already fosters more open dialogue, empowering younger players to consider options earlier. Stephens reflected that at age 22—when eggs are most viable—she lacked awareness. Now, athletes can make informed choices without rushing back prematurely, reducing injury risks. Jessica Pegula acknowledged reduced stress about ‘the window for having kids getting smaller.’ Culturally, it destigmatizes fertility discussions in elite sports.
Stephens calls for all women’s sports to adopt similar measures, terming the WTA’s progress ‘long overdue’ but just the beginning. She envisions the program revolutionizing athlete welfare over 20 years, normalizing family planning as part of sports careers. As tennis leads, Stephens hopes it inspires global change across athletics: ‘It could eventually change our whole tour.’