Aryna Sabalenka’s puppy Ash, Anna Kalinskaya’s dog Bella, and Anastasia Potapova’s toy poodle Bula were among the adorable pets that stole the spotlight at this year’s French Open. The tournament even issued official accreditations for the canine companions and introduced a dedicated dog concierge service to cater to their needs.
The singles champions, Mirra Andreeva and Alexander Zverev, also posed with their adorable pets on the court after lifting their respective trophies.
However, those heartwarming scenes will not be repeated at Wimbledon, as the All England Club prohibits pet dogs from entering the grounds, a policy that has prompted a plea from Sabalenka and drawn criticism from Martina Navratilova.
Why Aryna Sabalenka and Martina Navratilova Want Wimbledon to Change Its Dog Policy
Speaking on the Tennis Channel, journalist Jon Wertheim revealed that Wimbledon’s strict ban on pet dogs stems from the UK’s pet quarantine regulations and the need to protect the grass on the courts and fields from potential damage.
“What is going on here at Wimbledon? Well, I was given two answers by the club. One is that there are some very strict pet quarantine policies in the UK. Also, the grass is an issue. Not just the grass courts, but the fields. Henman Hill behind us. It does not go well with dogs and grass and public spaces. So, alas, no dogs at Wimbledon,” Wertheim said.
Navratilova, however, dismissed those reasons as a “baloney excuse” and insisted that Wimbledon should change the policy. She argued that players make significant sacrifices while traveling throughout the season and should be allowed the comfort and companionship of their pets.
“I need to become the president so I can change the rule. The quarantine, that’s a baloney excuse, as is the grass. They just don’t want dogs here. But I think one day they will change. I’m a member here. I insist we must change these rules. These players give up so much to be on the road. At least they can bring their dog with them. And here they make it really complicated,” she said.
Sabalenka also voiced her disagreement with Wimbledon’s policy in a press conference after her 6-1, 7-6(9) win over McCartney Kessler in the second round. Although the world No. 1 acknowledged the All England Club’s fear of damage to the grounds, she emphasized that players’ dogs are well-trained and unlikely to cause problems.
“I don’t agree with that,” Sabalenka said. “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 and they’re probably afraid of damages inside. But I have to say that all of our dogs are very well trained. They’re not going to do anything wrong inside of this beautiful building. So, we have to change that.”
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The Belarusian made an emotional plea and urged Wimbledon to reconsider, revealing that it hurt to see her dog Ash suffer when left alone at home.
“It just sometimes hurts to leave him at the house by himself because he really gets attached a lot and he suffers staying along. So really hurts my feeling. It’s just like little fluffy thing that always wants cuddle and love. Going to the park with him, walking around, also like some sort of meditation for me. So, Wimbledon, please, I beg you, let the dogs inside,” she added.
Despite her dismay over the strict rule, Aryna Sabalenka will be focused on preparing for her blockbuster third-round showdown against Jeļena Ostapenko at the grass-court Major. A win will send the world No. 1 into the Round of 16, where she will face either Naomi Osaka or Daria Kasatkina.
