Tennis players increasingly take dogs to tournaments — Asharq Al-Awsat
In New York, United States, where the US Open is taking place, tennis players said they are increasingly travelling to tournaments with dogs and other pets. As Asharq Al-Awsat reports, for athletes who spend most of the year on planes, in hotels and at tournament venues far from home, pets can provide a sense of stability and emotional support.
American tennis player Jessica Pegula, whom the outlet calls the world No. 3, said at the US Open that more female athletes are travelling with pets because of the difficulties of life on tour. She has three rescue dogs — Maddie, Dez and Mabel — and values being able to take them to competitions, although this is not always convenient because of the animals' size.
Conditions at tournaments
This year, the French Open offered a “dog concierge” service for players' pets and issued official accreditation badges to ten dogs. Mirra Andreeva posed for photographs with the trophy alongside Luna, a puppy belonging to her coach Conchita Martinez. Alexander Zverev also found himself in the spotlight with his dachshund Mishka.
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The rules of different competitions vary. Strict Australian biosecurity laws complicate bringing pets to the Australian Open. Only service dogs and certified assistance dogs are allowed onto the Wimbledon grounds. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka asked Wimbledon in July to allow dogs on the tournament grounds, as competition rules prevented her from taking her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy named Ash there.
Puppies at the US Open
During Fan Week at the US Open, puppies from the New York organization Muddy Paws Animal Rescue were in the players' area. They were visited by, among others, Coco Gauff and Leylah Fernandez.
Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk, who travels with two dogs — Mander and Chich — previously said at Roland Garros that daily care for the animals helps her feel more focused despite the demands of professional sport. According to her, dogs need to be walked and fed, and they love their owner regardless of circumstances.
