Sabalenka Speaks Out on Wimbledon's No-Dog Policy
Aryna Sabalenka, the world No.1 and top seed at Wimbledon, has called for a dramatic rule change after expressing her displeasure with the tournament's policy banning players from bringing their dogs. The Belarusian star, who has advanced to the third round after straight-set wins, opened up about her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Ash and how the pet has boosted her mental well-being.
Unlike the French Open, which offers a dog concierge service at Roland Garros, the All England Club maintains a strict no-dog policy, allowing only service dogs on site. Sabalenka, 28, said she disagrees with the rule. "I don't agree with that," she stated with a smile, acknowledging the club's concerns about potential damage to the historic venue. "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."
Emotional Toll of Leaving Ash Behind
Sabalenka revealed the emotional impact of leaving Ash alone at home during the tournament. "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 [a] little fluffy thing that always wants cuddles 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 (smiling)," she added.
The world No.1 previously brought Ash to a post-match interview at Indian Wells after defeating Naomi Osaka, describing the dog as a calming influence. "I feel like I'm much more settled, calm, more in control. Whenever I feel like going crazy on my team, I just pet Ash and I feel better," she said.
All England Club Stands Firm on Policy
All England Club CEO Sally Bolton addressed the matter at a pre-tournament press conference, reiterating the club's stance. "The only dogs that we permit on site are service dogs, and those security and search dogs. We're in constant communication with the players, and we don't anticipate that being a problem, but that's our policy and always has been our policy," Bolton said.
Sabalenka Advances to Third Round
On the court, Sabalenka defeated McCartney Kessler 6-1, 7-6 to set up a third-round clash with Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko, who beat Antonia Ruzic. "Yeah, super happy to get this win. I'm extremely happy I was able to close it in straight sets. That was a very tough battle and I'm super happy I was able to handle it," Sabalenka said after the match.
