A New Role at Roland Garros
At the French Open, Melanie Gauthier Knopp holds a title that stands out in the world of professional tennis: she is the tournament's first-ever dog concierge. While her responsibilities include general player care—ranging from organizing excursions to providing massage therapy—a significant portion of her time is now dedicated to the four-legged companions who travel the globe with the sport’s elite.
Her work ensures that while athletes focus on their high-stakes matches, their pets receive premium care, which can occasionally involve hand-feeding or finding creative ways to keep them cool during Paris’s intense heatwaves.
The Rising Trend of Traveling Pets
The presence of dogs at major tennis events has become a common sight. Players like Anna Kalinskaya, Hailey Baptiste, and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka are frequently accompanied by their pets. Sabalenka, who recently adopted a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Ash, highlights the emotional connection these animals provide. Speaking about her puppy, named after Arthur Ashe, she noted: «We felt like it had to be related to New York».
This "puppy proliferation" is reshaping the tournament environment. Roland Garros has responded by installing waste dispensers, designating pet-friendly zones, and even issuing special credential badges to canine guests.
More Than Just Pets: Emotional Support on the Road
For athletes who endure a nomadic, often lonely lifestyle, dogs offer a vital sense of normalcy. Away from home for most of the year, players find comfort in the responsibility and companionship their pets provide. As Anna Kalinskaya explained:
«It’s nice having her responsibilities. She’s good company, she relaxes my mind. It’s good not to think all the time about tennis. Traveling with her, it relaxes me.»
Whether it is managing the stress of a difficult loss or simply brightening a hotel room, these dogs act as essential support systems for competitors navigating the pressures of the ATP and WTA tours.
Logistics and the Future of Tour Life
Traveling with pets involves complex planning. Different countries have varying quarantine laws, which often dictate where a player can bring their animal. For example, while flights between the U.S. and France are relatively straightforward, other regions present significant regulatory hurdles.
Despite these challenges, the role of the dog concierge is becoming a template for other tournaments. Gauthier Knopp, who treats her canine clients with personalized care—including park visits that she playfully describes as «reading their emails»—believes that specialized pet services will become a standard offering across the professional circuit.
As the tour continues to evolve, these dogs remain constant figures, seen on practice courts and in player boxes, providing a grounding influence in the high-pressure environment of professional sports.