Anna Kalinskaya's boyfriend was forced to leave midway through her fourth-round French Open victory after her dog, Bella, caused a disturbance. The Russian-born player, ranked world No. 20, often brings her mini dachshund to matches.
Kalinskaya defeated Anastasia Potapova 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10-7) on Monday to reach the quarter-finals, matching her deepest Grand Slam run. However, the match was not without its challenges, as Bella's barking led to an early exit for her partner.
Speaking to Tennis Channel, Kalinskaya explained: 'Today, she couldn't watch because she barked in the first set. That's why my match was not very joyful. She actually barked and Anastasia missed the ball to the net. It was quite an important point. But then my boyfriend left the stadium with her.'
The 27-year-old, who previously dated world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, said having her dog provides a welcome distraction from tennis. However, she noted that the dog-sitting service at the tournament was closed, forcing her boyfriend to take Bella away.
Dogs have become increasingly common at Grand Slams, with Madison Keys commenting on the trend. 'There's just… a lot of dogs,' said Keys, who was knocked out in the fourth round. 'I think dogs are a large responsibility, though. So as long as we're doing that, then I think dogs are wonderful.'
