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🇩🇰 Denmark /Sports

Pets keep lonely tennis players company on the road

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth From a news agency Context piece
  • Top tennis players including Jessica Pegula say pets help them cope with the loneliness and demands of life on the international circuit.
  • The French Open introduced dog-sitting during matches and even issued ten dogs accreditation cards, while Wimbledon and the Australian Open have not yet allowed players’ pets inside.
  • Aryna Sabalenka has urged Wimbledon to let dogs in, and Marta Kostyuk says caring for her two dogs provides a welcome break from tennis.

The glamour of professional tennis includes exotic travel and luxury hotels, but Jessica Pegula says life on the road can also be lonely. That is why she and a growing number of players take their pets, usually dogs, with them to tournaments.

“Animals are fantastic,” Pegula said, according to Reuters. “That’s why many of the girls are traveling with several pets now, because life on the road is hard.”

Animals are fantastic.

· Jessica PegulaShe explained why more tennis players take pets with them on the international circuit.

Major tournaments have begun to notice the trend. Earlier this year, the French Open introduced a service allowing players to have their dogs cared for during matches. As a promotional gesture, ten dogs even received their own accreditation cards, complete with photographs and names.

That’s why many of the girls are traveling with several pets now, because life on the road is hard.

· Jessica PegulaShe described the emotional difficulty of constant travel.

Dogs have also appeared in the celebrations. A dog belonging to Mirra Andreeva’s coach joined the official ceremony after Andreeva won on the French clay. Alexander Zverev was photographed with his dog and his newly won trophy.

Pegula says pets provide a kind of love players cannot find elsewhere. “Having something that brings you back down to earth, something as simple as having a dog or any other animal, gives you a kind of love that you don’t experience from other people. They love you unconditionally, and that can be a great emotional support,” she said.

Wimbledon, I beg you. Let the dogs in.

· Aryna SabalenkaThe world No. 1 appealed to Wimbledon to allow players’ dogs inside.

The Australian Open and Wimbledon have not opened their doors to players’ pets. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka wants that to change. “Wimbledon, I beg you. Let the dogs in,” she said in July. Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, who travels with two dogs, describes them as a welcome break from tennis. “You feel more grounded, no matter what else is going on. You have to walk them and feed them. They are there, and they love you no matter what.”

You feel more grounded, no matter what else is going on. You have to walk them and feed them. They are there, and they love you no matter what.

· Marta KostyukShe described the companionship provided by the two dogs she takes on tour.
About this summary

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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