New WTA rules seek to protect returning mothers

The WTA has tweaked some of its regulations for the upcoming season—most notably, there’s a change to the Special Ranking Rule to help new mothers return to the tour.

Previously, a player could use a Special Ranking after an absence—from injury, illness or pregnancy—that lasted between six months and three years.

Now, the WTA has laid out more specific rules in accordance with the time a player is away from the tour: A player out of competition for more than six months and less than a year can still use the special ranking for up to eight tournaments in a one-year period, but, additionally:

—A player gone for one year or more can use a special ranking for up to 12 tournaments.

—A player out for pregnancy or a medical condition has three years to use her special ranking. (It's two years for adoption, surrogacy or legal guardianship.)

—A player can now freeze her ranking twice, instead of the previously allowed once.

Crucially, if a player's special ranking would ordinarily justify a seed, she can now receive an "additional seed." This allows tournaments to seed the returning player without taking a seed away from someone else.

These updated rules represent an advancement for women in sports. Billie Jean King took to social media to share her praise of the new rulebook:

Attire rules have been clarified as well. Players can now wear compression shorts and leggings without a skirt or dress. However, this doesn't necessarily prevent the French Open from implementing a ban on catsuits.

"Our rules do not have jurisdiction over the Slams. They have the ability to set their rules in any manner they wish," said WTA CEO Steve Simon in an interview with WTA Insider.

There are also rule changes surrounding shot clocks, bathroom breaks, withdrawals and more.

For the best explanation of the serve clock, which will be used at Premier tournaments in 2019, cue Petra Kvitova:

In 2019, the ATP, WTA—and so much more—are on Tennis Channel Plus: