Tennis has long been recognized as the pioneering force behind the rise of women's professional sports. A new feature by Ava Wallace and Matthew Futterman in The Athletic examines how the sport that led the charge for gender equality in athletics is now working to reassert its historical leadership role.
The article, published November 8, 2026, explores tennis's unique position in women's sports history — from the formation of the WTA Tour to the fight for equal prize money at Grand Slam tournaments — and the contemporary challenges the sport faces in maintaining its status as the standard-bearer for women's athletics.
