Female tennis players will receive paid maternity leave on the WTA Tour for the first time.

More than 320 players will be eligible for up to 12 months paid leave through a new maternity fund introduced by governing body, the Women’s Tennis Association.

Grants will also be made available for fertility treatment.

Players will need to compete in a minimum number of WTA tournaments over a certain period of time to be eligible.

The maternity programme will be fully funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is a global partner of the WTA Tour.

Petra Kvitova and Belinda Bencic have both made their comeback from maternity leave in recent months.

Former world number one Victoria Azarenka, who gave birth to son Leo in 2016, told the BBC last year that it would be a “huge win for women in general” if the WTA was to introduce maternity pay.

Four-time major champion Naomi Osaka also spoke in support of maternity pay, saying it would be “life-changing”.

“It can be challenging to balance the physical and emotional demands of a professional tennis career with the complexities of motherhood and family life,” WTA chief executive Portia Archer said.

“This initiative will provide the current and next generation of players the support and flexibility to explore family life, in whatever form they choose.”