Every year, the French Open welcomes hundreds of the world’s best tennis players to Roland Garros, where careers are measured in forehands, rankings and trophies. Yet this year, another group of guests has quietly attracted attention throughout the tournament grounds. They are not coaches, physiotherapists or family members. They are dogs, and they have become such a visible part of life at the French Open that tournament organizers introduced a service dedicated entirely to their care.
The woman at the center of that effort is Melanie Gauthier Knopp, whose responsibilities extend well beyond traditional hospitality. Her job is not to prepare athletes for competition or analyze opponents. Instead, she looks after the pets that increasingly accompany professional players across continents, oceans and countless hotel rooms throughout the year. The role, which makes her Roland Garros’ first official dog concierge, reflects a broader transformation occurring across professional tennis, where canine companions have evolved from occasional travel partners into essential members of many players’ support systems.
On any given day during the tournament, Gauthier Knopp might organize walks through Parisian parks, supervise play sessions, coordinate transportation, provide special meals or even arrange opportunities for dogs to cool off during periods of extreme heat. During a particularly warm stretch of weather last week, she opened access to a private swimming pool so the animals could escape the rising temperatures. Some dogs receive massages after spending long hours accompanying their owners around the grounds. Others require personalized attention tailored to their personalities and routines. In certain cases, Gauthier Knopp admits, she even hand-feeds dinner to especially demanding clients. Her clients, however, are not tennis stars. They are the dogs belonging to those stars.
What might once have seemed like an unusual luxury now feels increasingly normal within professional tennis. Small dogs can be spotted throughout Roland Garros, moving through hallways, training facilities and player lounges with a familiarity that suggests they belong there as much as the athletes themselves. Some have become so recognizable that tournament staff and journalists immediately associate them with their owners. When Bella, the miniature dachshund belonging to Russian player Anna Kalinskaya, appears in a corridor, observers know her owner is likely nearby. The same is true for Oscar, the dachshund accompanying American player Hailey Baptiste, and Ash, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy recently adopted by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Ash has perhaps become the most famous canine newcomer on the women’s tour. Sabalenka named the puppy after Arthur Ashe following a promise made with her coach. If she won the U.S. Open, she would finally get a dog. After claiming the title, she followed through. Searching for a suitable name connected to New York, she settled on Ash, a tribute to one of tennis’ most iconic figures. “We felt like it had to be related to New York,” Sabalenka explained earlier this season. “Apple doesn’t sound right.”
Dogs have long occupied a place in tennis culture. Serena Williams famously traveled with her Yorkshire terrier, Chip, for many years, and several major tournaments have historically accommodated players who wished to bring pets. Yet even longtime observers of the sport acknowledge that something has changed. The number of dogs appearing regularly on tour has increased dramatically, particularly on the women’s side. At this year’s French Open, at least half of the women’s quarterfinalists traveled with dogs. The trend extends beyond the WTA Tour as well. World No. 3 Alexander Zverev has traveled with a dog for much of his professional career, while Belgian player Zizou Bergs is among a smaller group of competitors who bring medium-sized dogs rather than the compact breeds favored by most players.
The growing canine population has forced tournaments to adapt. Roland Garros installed dog waste bag dispensers around the players’ area, created designated guidelines outlining where animals are permitted and issued credential badges for 10 dogs during this year’s event. While certain locations remain off limits, including dining areas, dogs have nevertheless become a familiar presence throughout the grounds. They have been spotted courtside during practice sessions, accompanying players through media obligations and even sitting quietly in player boxes during matches on Court Philippe-Chatrier. For spectators, the sight of a dog patiently watching a tennis ball travel back and forth without chasing it has become one of the tournament’s more amusing side stories.
The phenomenon reflects more than simple affection for pets. Professional tennis is among the most demanding lifestyles in global sports. Unlike athletes competing in league-based competitions, tennis players spend much of the year traveling independently from tournament to tournament. Weeks are spent in hotels, airports and rental apartments. Family members often remain at home. Friendships can be difficult to maintain across continents and time zones. Coaches, trainers and agents provide company, but they are also employees whose relationships with players are shaped by professional obligations. The result is a lifestyle that can be intensely isolating, even for the sport’s biggest stars.
For many players, dogs help fill that emotional gap. Kalinskaya has spoken openly about the calming influence her dog provides while traveling. Caring for another living creature introduces responsibilities unrelated to rankings, training schedules or match results. A difficult loss becomes slightly easier to process when a dog still needs a walk, food or attention. The simple routines of pet ownership create a sense of normality in a profession otherwise defined by constant movement and uncertainty.
“It’s nice having her responsibilities,” Kalinskaya said during the tournament. “She’s good company, she relaxes my mind. It’s good not to think all the time about tennis.” Her comments capture a sentiment shared by many athletes who describe dogs not merely as companions but as an emotional anchor amid the pressures of elite competition.
Sabalenka has gone even further, describing Ash as a form of mental health support. The Belarusian star, known for her intensity on court, said the puppy provides emotional balance during a season filled with relentless expectations. Anastasia Potapova echoed similar feelings, explaining that her dog transforms the atmosphere inside hotel rooms that might otherwise feel sterile and temporary. “It’s just a bit of a different atmosphere in the room,” she said, highlighting the comfort that pets can provide in unfamiliar surroundings.
Even players who do not currently travel with dogs understand the appeal. Madison Keys, one of the few top players on tour without a canine companion, acknowledged that dogs offer a sense of familiarity amid a demanding schedule. Laughing during a news conference, she observed that there seemed to be dogs everywhere at this year’s French Open. Yet she also recognized why so many players have embraced pet ownership. “I totally see how it feels, like a little bit of normalcy and a piece of home,” she said.
For younger players still establishing themselves, the decision to travel with a dog often involves additional considerations. Brazilian teenager João Fonseca, one of the breakout stars of the tournament, left his family dog at home despite his affection for animals. At just 19 years old, Fonseca said he remains focused on learning how to navigate life on the ATP Tour. Removing the dog from his family, he joked, would likely create problems with his parents. Even so, he understands why so many players choose to bring pets. Tennis, he noted, is an intensely individual sport where loneliness can become a significant challenge.
“It’s kind of nice, you know, just to have someone around,” Fonseca said. “A dog is a friend, as well.”
Traveling with dogs, however, requires extensive planning. Every country maintains its own regulations regarding animal transport, vaccinations and documentation. Some destinations are relatively straightforward. Others impose quarantine requirements that can last weeks or even months, making travel impractical. Many players avoid bringing dogs to tournaments in Australia and parts of Asia because of strict entry requirements. Hotel policies add another layer of complexity, while some tournaments prohibit animals entirely.
Even established stars occasionally encounter difficulties. Sabalenka discovered that accommodations she had used for years suddenly felt less suitable after becoming a dog owner. Staying in central Paris, she realized there were fewer convenient areas for walking Ash. Fortunately, she said, the puppy adapted quickly. “He’s a very smart dog, very easy, very chill,” she explained.
For teenager Mirra Andreeva, one of the tournament’s youngest semifinalists, the hardest challenge is separation. She left her bernedoodle, Rassy, at home during Roland Garros and admitted that video calls have not provided much comfort. Despite repeated attempts to get the dog’s attention through a screen, Rassy remains unimpressed by FaceTime.
The increasing presence of dogs has turned Gauthier Knopp’s role into something of a blueprint for the future. A dog owner herself, she believes tournaments will continue expanding pet-related services as more athletes choose to travel with animals. During this year’s French Open, she cared for only a handful of dogs at a time, allowing her to tailor activities to each animal’s personality. Some preferred long walks filled with opportunities to explore scents around Parisian parks. Others simply wanted companionship and routine.
“We say they’re reading their emails when they go outside and smell the plants and smell the fountain,” she joked.
As tennis evolves, players continue searching for ways to manage the psychological demands of a profession that rarely slows down. Coaches, sports psychologists and performance specialists remain essential components of success. Increasingly, however, another form of support can be found curled up in a hotel room, waiting patiently after practice or wandering the grounds of a Grand Slam tournament wearing its own accreditation badge. At Roland Garros this year, the growing number of four-legged companions served as a reminder that in one of the world’s most individual sports, even the best players sometimes need unconditional companionship. And if current trends continue, dogs may become as familiar a sight at major tennis tournaments as rackets, ball kids and championship trophies.
