The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) will require all players to undergo genetic sex testing to compete on the WTA Tour, under an updated women's eligibility policy taking effect from Tuesday. The change makes tennis the latest sport, following World Athletics and World Boxing, to introduce mandatory genetic screening for the women's category, reflecting broader shifts across international sport on eligibility standards.

Players will need to provide a cheek swab, blood or saliva sample to test for the SRY gene, part of the Y chromosome linked to male characteristics, with testing required only once in a player's career. Only a negative result will permit competition; a positive result triggers further medical assessment, and players who refuse testing risk disciplinary action. This replaces the WTA's 2024 policy, which allowed transgender women to compete if testosterone levels stayed below 2.5 nmol/L for two years, though the WTA notes no transgender women currently play on the Tour.