World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka has called on Wimbledon to change its strict no-dog policy, stating that the rule leaves her feeling 'hurt' when she must leave her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Ash, alone at home. Sabalenka, who has advanced to the third round after straight-sets victories in her opening two singles matches, spoke about the emotional toll of being separated from her pet during the tournament.
Sabalenka's Emotional Appeal
Speaking with a smile, Sabalenka said: 'I don't agree with that. 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. 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.'
The Belarusian star elaborated on the personal impact: '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).'
Contrast with French Open Policy
The French Open at Roland Garros provides a dog concierge service to assist players with their pets, a stark contrast to Wimbledon's policy. The All England Club maintains a no-dog policy with the exception of assistance dogs, as confirmed by CEO Sally Bolton. '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 at a pre-tournament press conference.
Mental Wellbeing Benefits
Sabalenka has previously highlighted the positive role Ash plays in her mental health. During her victorious campaign at Indian Wells earlier this year, she brought Ash to a post-match interview after defeating Naomi Osaka. 'I feel like I'm much more settled, calm, more in control,' she said. 'Whenever I feel like going crazy on my team, I just pet Ash and I feel better.'
On-Court Success
On the court, the 28-year-old world No.1 defeated McCartney Kessler 6-1, 7-6 to set up a third-round clash with Jelena Ostapenko. The Latvian overcame Antonia Ruzic, who had been scheduled to face Emma Raducanu in the opening round before the Brit withdrew. 'Yeah, super happy to get this win,' Sabalenka said after overcoming Kessler. '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.'
