Female players wishing to take time away from tennis for fertility procedures such as the freezing of eggs or embryos will be given ranking protection.
The WTA Tour has announced that any player ranked between one and 750 in the world who is out for a minimum of 10 weeks will be eligible to receive a Special Entry Ranking (SER) which can be used to enter up to three competitions.
This will be their average ranking over a 12-week period before and during their leave. The SER can be used in WTA events up to 500 events, but does not include the premier 1000 events.
American star Sloane Stephens, who has twice used time during the off-season to freeze her eggs, welcomed the initiative.
"I'm incredibly proud of our sport in recognising the importance of fertility treatments for female athletes," the 32-year-old said.
"For any woman, the conversation of family life versus a career is nuanced and complex. The WTA has now created a safe space for players to explore options and to make the best decisions for themselves.
"It's truly groundbreaking and will empower this generation, and future generations of players, to continue with the sport they love without having to compromise."
