World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has urged Wimbledon organizers to reverse the tournament's strict ban on pets inside the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club grounds.
The four-time Grand Slam champion made the plea after her second-round victory over McCartney Kessler on Wednesday.
Sabalenka has been traveling with her puppy, Ash, since March. However, tournament rules prohibit attendees from bringing animals into the SW19 venue, except for certified assistance dogs.
“I don't agree with that,” Sabalenka said, expressing her dissatisfaction with the current restrictions.
She explained that leaving her well-trained pet alone at her temporary residence causes emotional distress for both of them during the grass-court tournament.
The Belarusian acknowledged the venue's concerns about potential property damage.
“Obviously if the dog does something wrong inside of this historical place, it's probably going to take a bit of time to replace.
They're probably afraid of damage inside,” she said.
Despite her appeal, reports indicate the All England Club is unlikely to alter its long-standing entry conditions.
The venue maintains a secret doggy paddling pool behind Henman Hill for security and guide dogs.
“We have to change that. 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,” Sabalenka added.
Mixed Reactions from Fellow Players
American player Coco Gauff supported the idea of allowing dogs on site but highlighted safety concerns in crowded athlete areas.
She recalled past incidents where pets narrowly avoided injuries in high-activity zones like the player gym and locker rooms.
“I love dogs,” Gauff said.
She emphasized that while she enjoys animals, the restricted layout of the private club requires certain boundaries to protect the pets themselves.
“I definitely think there are certain places dogs shouldn't be for safety reasons, like the gym and the locker room.”
Gauff detailed a close call from last year's tournament: “Last year, I don't want to call out the player, but someone threw a medicine ball at me.
If I was a little dog, that would freaking hurt.” She suggested keeping animals out of food preparation and heavy training areas for cleanliness and safety.
“I wouldn't mind them around the site, but I just definitely think, because there's been times where I almost stepped on somebody's dog, almost threw a medicine ball at someone's dog,” Gauff said.
Following her straight-sets victory, Sabalenka is scheduled to face Jeļena Ostapenko in the third round. Ostapenko advanced after defeating Great Britain's Harriet Dart.
