INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Aryna Sabalenka credits her new puppy Ash with providing “mental health support” as she continues to win and remain a top player in women’s tennis.
Sabalenka took her Cavalier King Charles spaniel with her for a post-match interview with Tennis Channel after her round-of-16 win over Naomi Osaka at the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday.
“I feel more settled, calm, more in control,” Sabalenka, who has a history of emotional outbursts on the court, said as the Tennis Channel commentator held and petted her dog. “Whenever I feel like going crazy on my team, I pet Ash and I feel better.”
Sabalenka, who also recently announced her engagement to Brazilian businessman Jorges Frangulis, shared news of her puppy on social media last week and introduced Ashe as the “new member” of Tigers, her support team of coaches, trainers and other staff.
She spoke more about Ashe after her 6-2, 6-4 victory over Osaka.
Sabalenka said she made a deal with coach Anton Dubrov that she would get a dog if she won last year’s U.S. Open.
She also considered getting a dachshund, but ultimately decided on a spaniel because “my mom had a spaniel and I loved that dog,” adding that spaniels make great “family dogs.”
“Super attached to their owners, super calm, super sweet, super adorable,” she said.
Sabalenka said she wanted her dog’s name to be associated in some way with New York and the U.S. Open.
“Apple doesn’t sound right,” she said. So she chose Ashe to pay tribute to American tennis superstar and civil rights activist Arthur Ashe, for whom the main court at the U.S. Open is named.
