PARIS – Melanie Gauthier Knopp’s job at the French Open has nothing to do with playing tennis. She spends her days helping the hundreds of players who have come through their gates over the past couple of weeks feel cared for.In that pursuit, she does everything from coordinating social activities to leading excursions off grounds. She gives massages to those who need it after a long day of running around and, when it was unseasonably hot in Paris last week, she even opened a private pool so they had a place to cool down.If she’s really particularly generous, Gauthier Knopp will even hand-feed certain clients their dinner.No, not players. Their dogs.Gauthier Knopp is the first dog concierge employed by Roland Garros, hired to look after the beloved pets that tennis’ top players tote around from tournament to tournament throughout the year, across borders and over seas, so the competitors can focus on performing at their peak.The dogs are usually small — better for transporting — and some have achieved such a level of renown that the sight of them heralds the arrival of their human.
If a mini dachshund, Bella, bounds down the hall, trust that French Open quarterfinalist Anna Kalinskaya isn’t far behind. Same goes for Hailey Baptiste of the U.S. dachshund, Oscar, and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s recently adopted Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy, Ash – so named for Arthur Ashe, because Sabalenka had a deal with her coach that if she won the U.S. Open, she’d get a dog.“We felt like it had to be related to New York,” Sabalenka told the Tennis Channel this year. “Apple doesn’t sound right.”Little dogs have had the run of tennis events for many years. Serena Williams’ pup, Chip, was a longtime member of her entourage, and other Grand Slams have adopted policies to make them comfortable.But the sport has seen a noticeable puppy proliferation in recent years. At least half of the women’s quarterfinalists at this year’s French Open travel with their dogs on tour. World No. 3 Alexander Zverev, who won his quarterfinal against rising Spanish teenager Rafael Jódar on Tuesday, has traveled with a dog since the early years of his career. Zizou Bergs, a Belgian player who lost in the first round, is the rare midsize-dog owner who brings around his pet, Copain.
