World number five Jennifer Capriati says it is not the responsibility of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) to dictate terms to young players as to when, where and how long they should play.
Capriati, said it was not fair for the WTA, which organises women's professional tennis, to impose an age ban on promising players.
The American, who made her first appearance on the WTA Tour at the age of 14, agreed with former world number one Martina Hingis that young players should be able to compete more often.
The Swiss player, who retired from top flight tennis in October 2002 aged just 22 after being plagued by injuries, has criticised the WTA's age protection rule that limits the number of tournaments young players can enter each year.
Backing Hingis, Capriati said: "I don't think that it is the WTA's responsibility. I don't think they should hold a player by the hand and guide them. That is the job of family and friends".