Full Breakdown
Dogs on the Courts: Roland Garros’ New Concierge Program
6/4/2026, 9:46:10 PM
The Dog Accreditation Initiative
The French Open launched a dog-accreditation program for its 2026 edition, issuing badges to ten canine companions and permitting them in the players’ village, practice courts, and player boxes. The tournament hired Melanie Gauthier Knopp as its first on-site dog concierge to oversee care, exercise, and emergencies.
Background and Key Players
Dogs have long accompanied stars—Serena Williams’ Chip was a fixture at Grand Slams—but few seasons have seen a surge. At Roland Garros, at least half of women’s quarterfinalists arrived with pets, including Anna Kalinskaya’s dachshund Bella, Aryna Sabalenka’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Ash, Zizou Bergs’s mixed-breed Copain, and Anastasia Potapova’s mini-poodle Bula. Players increasingly cite their dogs as emotional support and mental-health aids.
Logistics and Numbers
Ten dogs received credential badges for the 2026 event, and small breeds dominate because they travel more easily. Players must navigate differing international pet-entry rules; for instance, dogs cannot be flown to Australia or East Asian tournaments without months-long quarantine, limiting their presence at those venues.
Official Policies and Statements
Support manager Kildine Chevalier described program as “a bit of fun, a great souvenir,” stressing that dogs must stay within player areas, be carried or placed in small bags, and remain silent. Concierge Gauthier Knopp said the service provides indoor play zones, pool access, and walks, allowing athletes to focus on competition.
Player Experiences
Players say dogs bring normalcy and mental relief: Kalinskaya noted her dog “relaxes my mind,” and Sabalenka called Ash her mental-health support. During Kalinskaya’s fourth-round match, Bella’s barking forced her boyfriend to leave the stadium.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics argue that canine presence can disrupt play and strain tennis etiquette, warning that the “no-bark” rule may be hard to enforce consistently.
Impact and Future
The initiative highlights recognition of athletes’ mental-health needs and suggests a new model for player support. Gauthier Knopp expects other Grand Slams to adopt similar concierge services, while Roland Garros plans to tighten badge enforcement and expand indoor facilities, making pet-friendly policies a standard feature of professional tennis.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Newshub reported that Bella’s barking forced Kalinskaya’s boyfriend to leave the stadium, a detail absent from the New York Times account of the French Open. Both sources confirm ten accredited dogs, but the NYT only notes that “at least half of the women’s quarterfinalists” traveled with pets, leaving the exact total and the presence of male players undocumented.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We felt like it had to be related to New York,” — Aryna Sabalenka, World No. 1
- “Dogs are great. I think dogs are a large responsibility, though. So as long as we’re doing that, then I think dogs are wonderful,” — Madison Keys, WTA player
- “‘She could not watch because she barked in the first set, that was why my match was not very joyful,’ Kalinskaya said.” — Anna Kalinskaya, WTA player
- “‘We try to be flexible with the rules, we ask them to be in arms or in the small dog carry bags,’ she said.” — Kildine Chevalier, Players support and relations manager, French Open
