French Open 2026 shows why more tennis players are travelling with dogs

Professional tennis is often described as one of the most demanding sports in the world. Players spend months away from home, moving from one tournament to another across continents, with little time to establish routines outside competition.

Increasingly, many athletes are finding comfort in an unlikely travelling companion: their dogs.

The trend was particularly visible at this year's French Open, where a growing number of players arrived at Roland Garros accompanied by their pets. Reports from Paris indicate that tournament organisers introduced dedicated support for dogs on site, reflecting how common pet travel has become on the professional circuit.

Among the players seen with dogs during the tournament were world number one Aryna Sabalenka, Russian players Anna Kalinskaya and Anastasia Potapova, American Hailey Baptiste and Ukrainian star Marta Kostyuk. On the men's side, German Alexander Zverev and Belgian Zizou Bergs are also known to travel with their pets during parts of the season.

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Another example of the trend came after the tournament, when champion Mirra Andreeva was photographed celebrating her French Open title alongside her dog, highlighting how visible pets have become around the sport's biggest events.

The presence of dogs has become increasingly noticeable at major tournaments in recent years, particularly on the WTA Tour, where players frequently share images and videos of their pets on social media.

Why players are bringing dogs on tour

Life on the professional tennis circuit can be isolating. Unlike team sports, tennis players often travel with only a small support group and spend much of the year living out of hotels.

Sports psychologists have long highlighted the positive effects pets can have on mental wellbeing. Studies have linked pet ownership to reduced stress levels, improved mood and increased feelings of companionship.

For athletes dealing with the pressures of competition, frequent travel and long periods away from family, dogs can provide a sense of routine and familiarity. Walking, feeding and caring for a pet introduces a daily structure that exists outside training schedules and match preparation.

The growing conversation around mental health in sport has also encouraged athletes to speak more openly about the importance of maintaining emotional balance during competition.

While dogs have occasionally appeared around tennis tournaments for decades, their numbers appear to have increased significantly in recent seasons.

How tournaments are adapting

The French Open's response reflects a broader recognition that player needs extend beyond practice courts and recovery facilities.

According to publicly reported information from Roland Garros, dogs accompanying players were granted access to designated areas within the tournament grounds, while organisers implemented measures to accommodate them safely and responsibly.

However, travelling internationally with pets remains complicated. Different countries maintain different entry requirements, vaccination rules and quarantine regulations, making it difficult for players to bring animals to every tournament on the calendar.

This means that while pets are becoming more common at events in Europe and North America, they are often absent from tournaments where animal import regulations are stricter.

Even so, the visibility of dogs at major events suggests the trend is unlikely to disappear. As tournaments continue to place greater emphasis on player welfare and wellbeing, organisers may increasingly be required to consider the needs of the four-legged members of the travelling tennis community as well.

For many players, a familiar wagging tail at the end of a long day may be just as valuable as any recovery session or training routine. And as the French Open demonstrated this year, tennis is becoming increasingly willing to make room for both.