Everything about healthcare for female tennis players

“If you don’t have a well-fitting sports bra, the muscles that support the breasts could otherwise provide the power for the serve in tennis,” says Maynard.

This comprehensive support is crucial for players like Coco. “I didn’t know how important it is to [all] was,” she says WH.

The task force gives reproductive health the highest priority.

But the support does not end with the annual check-ups. During the appointments, players can ask the gynecologist questions about menstrual cycles, pregnancy, prenatal care and play again.

For American stars like Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula, who are both thinking about starting a family, the training has brought about decisive changes.

“I just turned 29 and thought to myself, I really need to think about whether I want to have children or whether I need to freeze my eggs,” says Madison WH“It was great to be able to go to them and have someone give me great advice.”

“Now that I’m 30, I can deal with a lot of fun questions about fertility and explain how to freeze eggs and how the procedure works,” Jessica Pegula adds. “They were able to answer all of these questions and that was really helpful.”

According to the WTA, part of the health initiative is the establishment of structures to protect young mothers. Players will now be granted three years of maternity leave and a protected Rankwhich allows new mothers to lock their medical records during pregnancy. The Task Force also ensures international family health insurance for WTA members and their families, which also covers prenatal care and infertility treatments.

The support was inspired by former players who had to give up their careers after becoming pregnant, writes former professional player Leslie Allen on the Tennis Website.

“Now athletes can learn how to stay healthy, have a baby and return to the tour,” she continues.

A player is examined by a physiotherapist during the WTA Hologic Tour.

In addition, they are guaranteed psychiatric care.

Finally, the focus is not only on the physical – the players also have access to mental health professionals. The athletes are familiarized with the WTA strategies from an early age. Mental Health and Wellbeing Teamwhich offers tailored support throughout the year. Players can access individual sessions with athlete-specialised psychologists via video chat or in person at tournaments, including all Grand Slams.

“The frequency, duration and topics of our sessions are truly determined by the athletes, whether in person or via telehealth,” writes Becky Ahlgren Bedics, WTA vice president of mental health and wellbeing, on the organization’s website.

For Jessica, the psychological support provided by the WTA was a lifeline. Mindfulness with her how she deals with the emotional challenges after her mother Kim Pegula suffered a cardiac arrest in 2022.

“The WTA psychologists understand us not only as women, but as athletes who are under a lot of physical and mental stress due to our sports and travel schedules,” she said. “They are always super helpful and very warm.”

For Jessica, the task force not only changes the way she manages her health as a professional athlete, but it also sets a precedent for athletes of all sports.

“Everything in this area is more geared towards men,” she says. “Ultimately, it’s us and our bodies and our choices and what we want to do with our health, and that’s why [the taskforce] just makes these decisions a lot easier.”

Isabel McMahon is the deputy social media editor at Women’s Health, where she manages the brand’s Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and more. She’s a proud former college radio DJ, born under the sign of Pisces, and preparing for the end of the world.