World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka pleaded with Wimbledon for the storied tournament to allow players’ dogs on-site after a blanket ban was issued ahead of the Championships.
Wimbledon chief executive Sally Bolton stressed that only ‘service dogs and security and search dogs’ would be allowed in SW19, just weeks after the French Open bent over backwards to ensure star pets were catered for in Paris.
But Sabalenka, who recently welcomed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Ash into her entourage, was adamant that there is a place for dogs at the tournament, and underscored the importance of her puppy to her mental wellbeing.
When asked about Wimbledon’s policy by Daily Mail Sport after her straight-sets defeat of McCartney Kessler, Sabalenka said firmly with a smile: ‘I don’t agree with that!’
Relenting, she added: ‘Well, I can understand why they made this decision. Obviously if the dog does something wrong inside of this historical place, probably going to take a bit of time to replace. They’re probably afraid of damages inside.
‘I have to say all of our dogs are very well-trained. They’re not going to do anything wrong inside of this beautiful building. We have to change that,’ she continued.
Aryna Sabalenka called for Wimbledon to let dogs come in with their players in a bid to boost their morale at the Championships
‘It just sometimes hurts to leave him at the house by himself. He really gets attached a lot. But he suffers staying alone. It really hurts my feelings. It’s just like little fluffy thing that always wants a cuddle and love. Going to the park with him, walking around, is also like some sort of meditation for me.
‘Wimbledon, please, I beg you, let the dogs inside.’
The All England Club has been contacted for comment.
Since adopting Ash in the spring, the puppy has accompanied Sabalenka on tour and even featured in his first trophy celebration on-court when the US Open champion won this year at Indian Wells.
On her run to win that trophy in California, Sabalenka underscored the positive uptick in managing her stress levels the puppy had provided.
‘I feel like I’m much more settled, calm, more in control,’ Sabalenka said during an interview with Tennis Channel. ‘Whenever I feel like going crazy on my team, I just pet Ash and I feel better.’
Sabalenka is just the latest star to travel with a dog on tour, with French Open winner Alexander Zverev, Anna Kalinskaya, Marta Kostyuk, and Eastbourne winner Zizou Bergs among those with well-publicised pets.
Such is the increase in player pets at tournaments that Roland-Garros this year hired a ‘dog concierge’ to ensure the welfare of the animals as temperatures rose in Paris.
The tournament also hired two dog walkers to exercise the pets while on-site in the 16th arrondissement.
