Ranking protection move

LONDON: The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) will offer greater rankings protection to mothers returning to the tour after giving birth and introduce a modernised dress rule as part of new rules announced for next season.

The changes address issues that came up in 2018 when former world No 1 Serena Williams, who returned to action after giving birth, was unseeded for some events and caused an uproar with a black, skintight bodysuit she wore at the French Open.

After gathering feedback from players, the WTA said its board of directors approved changes to allow players out of competition for 52 weeks or more to use their Special Ranking in 12 tournaments.

A player returning from pregnancy will have a threeyear period to use her Special Ranking, which will now begin at the birth of the child.

Williams’s world ranking had fallen to 451 when she was not seeded at the French Open. The American was, however, seeded 25th at this year’s Wimbledon despite being ranked outside the world’s top 32 players.

The board of directors also agreed players at WTA tournaments would not be prohibited from wearing leggings or compression shorts without a skirt, dress or shorts over them.

The WTA had no rule explicitly banning a player from wearing such outfits but adjusted the language of its rule to be more clear. — Reuters