FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016 /by DOUGLAS ROBSON

Wozniacki taught her dog, Bruno, to respond to commands in English, so anyone could tell him to “sit” or “stay.” (Photo by Douglas Robson)
For globetrotting tour insiders, Chip, Pierre and Bruno manage to keep a low profile, not to mention a lot of feet on the ground.

They jet off to tournaments. They carry special passports. They hang out in the players’ lounge, show up at press conferences and pass on a first-name basis. But you won’t find them on any official credential, guest or entry list.

Chip, Pierre and Bruno walk on all fours. They are dogs.

Like coaches, nutritionists and conditioning experts, canines are increasingly part of the ever-expanding modern tennis entourage; a lavish—and some would argue, outlandish—ingredient in the smorgasbord of circuit life.

No shortage of top players travel with their tail-waggers, from Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Caroline Wozniacki (regularly) to Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Andy Murray and Svetlana Kuznetsova (occasionally).

To owners, the headaches of criss-crossing continents with a dog in tow are outweighed by the gift of unconditional affirmation despite life lived out of a suitcase. They are a touchstone of domestic stability and companionship on tennis’ long and lonely road.

“It’s so comforting,” said Williams, who often refers to her 10-pound Yorkshire Terrier, Chip, as “my son.”

“We don’t see them as just an animal,” echoes Djokovic, whose toy poodle, Pierre (being carried, at right), is closest to his wife, Jelena.

As Wozniacki says of her Pomeranian puffball, Bruno, who never leaves home without his European Union doggy passport: “It’s totally worth it. He’s always happy to see you.”

Weathering far-flung time zones with a mutt or, more typically, a pint-sized purebred, is not as expensive as it might sound. The added fees for flights, hotels and food amount to a few thousand dollars a year, said several players. That’s pocket change to multi-millionaires like Williams and Djokovic.

But the potential hassles are many, and are occasionally emotionally costly. Animals end up stranded at customs by paperwork snafus. They relieve themselves in busy airports or hotel lobbies. They must be fed, walked and exercised, all while negotiating the rigorous demands of elite tennis.

Djokovic names dog for Dogs Trust. EDITORIAL USE ONLY: World number one tennis player and dog lover Novak Djokovic with his girlfriend Jelena Ristic and their pet poodle, Pierre, play with Goldendoodle Bella, a Dogs Trust rescue dog, which Novak named this morning at his temporary residence in Wimbledon, south west London, to raise awareness of Dogs Trust and help find Bella a new home. PRESS ASSOCIATION Issue date: Friday June 21, 2013. Photo credit should read: John Phillips/PA Wire URN:16865807

“I love dogs,” says Djokovic, whose transition to fatherhood last year did not deter him from adding a second toy poodle, Tesla, to his growing brood. “But logistically it’s not easy, especially when you travel on the opposite side of the world.”

Indeed, dog-care duties often fall on other members of a player’s team. Significant others, parents and hitting partners all pitch in. But players also go to great lengths to make their pets content, and it is not unusual to see them out strolling with their dogs on streets and in cafés across the globe. Djokovic recently found himself sneaking 7-year-old Pierre into the cramped lavatory of a transatlantic flight so that the little poodle could do his business. He positioned Pierre over the seat. He sweet-talked. He stroked his fur. He flushed. Pierre did not oblige.

If the idea of Serbia’s best-known citizen at 33,000 feet bent over the toilet coaxing his dog to go sounds absurd, Djokovic does not disagree. “What can I do?” he says, sounding chagrined as he explains commercial airlines’ in-bag policy, even for flights that can last 14 hours. “It’s the only place I can let him out.”

A few years ago, Kuznetsova tried to bring Dolce, her 50-pound American Bulldog, to Wimbledon. The two-time Grand Slam champion hit a snag on arrival and the notoriously strict U.K. authorities placed Dolce in quarantine.

Kuznetsova was beside herself. She left the tournament to visit him every day at a small, dirty facility next to Heathrow Airport. The fees ended up costing her more than her hotel in London. “It was a mess,” she says. “I was crying so much.”

By definition, the best-traveled dogs are toy breeds. They rarely exceed 20 pounds, so they can ride inside airplane cabins. But there are exceptions.

American Bethanie Mattek-Sands has taken to the road with Ruger (at right), a 140-pound South African Mastiff-like breed called a Boerboel. Named for the Ruger Magnum firearm, he entered her life when she and her husband, Justin, started dating. Justin had acquired Ruger just before they met.

Ruger, understandably, has never flown. But he has accompanied the couple on road trips from their Arizona base to tournaments in California. One summer, Ruger visited several tour stops on the East Coast and in Canada.

Despite his intimidating size, Mattek-Sands says Ruger is a big baby. He doesn’t thrive away from the familiar surroundings of home. He won’t eat at first. He’s startled by any small noise. He must sleep with his toys. “He kinda freaks out a little bit,” she says.

Mattek-Sands says she and her husband often feel like “absentee parents” because they leave him in the care of others so often. And though he’s high-maintenance, Ruger is a sweet, obedient, playful pooch that sleeps with them in bed. “He’s like another person to cuddle with,” Mattek-Sands says. When he leaves a mark, however, it doesn’t go unnoticed. “They’re huge,” says Mattek-Sands of Ruger’s droppings. “You won’t miss them.”

***

Not everyone views the decision to tote animals around the world as a worthwhile inconvenience. Dominika Cibulkova’s parents were none too pleased when the Slovakian started to travel regularly with her two Yorkshire Terriers, Woody and Spajky.

Kuznetsova says her father, a renowned coach of several Olympic cycling medalists, went “nuts” when she began to bring Dolce to tournaments. “He said, ‘You cannot do this! You’re an athlete! You need to focus! You will disturb your sleep,’ and blah blah blah.”

Harold Reginald Williams – September 12, 2012 – EleVen By VENUS WILLIAMS Spring/Summer 2013 Presentation held at The GREY GOOSE Blue Door, 509 West 34th Street, New York, NY. Photo Credit: A.m. Hoyer/PatrickMcMullan.com/Sipa USA

While modern travel and lucrative prize money have made such extravagances possible, the idea of folding a pet into the most peripatetic of sports strikes others as doggone crazy.

“It’s not for me,” says animal lover Agnieszka Radwanska, with a dismissive roll of the eyes.

Jelena Jankovic, who has a Maltese named Stella at her home in San Diego, goes a bit further. She says it’s unfair. “Being in a bag all day is not fun,” the Serbian says. “I prefer my dog to be at home and live a normal life.”

Still, others view it as a luxury for the elite. “I think that only would work if you’re one of the top players flying privately,” says dog-loving American Tim Smyczek. “That would be a goal of mine—to afford a dog on tour.”

***

Most dogs coexist amiably on tour, but tensions can arise. Mattek-Sands says Ruger became embroiled in a “standoff” with Kuznetsova’s Dolce when they crossed paths in a hotel lobby.

“They had this little alpha male thing going,” says Mattek-Sands. “I’m just glad Justin was holding him because he’s strong. If he really wants to take off, I have no chance.”

Some dogs keep to themselves. Maria Sharapova’s Pomeranian, also named Dolce, once appeared in a series of Canon ads with the L.A.-based superstar but is not one to mingle. “He’s unsocial,” Sharapova says, “kind of like his owner.”

Social or not, players face daily inconveniences in exchange for their loyalty. Dogs disrupt sleep by barking at strange noises. They whine. They snore. They get sick. They act out. Kuznetsova’s dog once chewed up her favorite sunglasses. But that’s not his main offense. “He farts a lot,” she says.

Food is another issue. Simple kibble does not always make the cut. Some players cart special concoctions with them. Diet-crazed Djokovic says he cooks rice, carrots and beef for Pierre and Tesla. Sharapova’s tiny and spirited dog is on a raw diet. “It’s a Russian thing,” she says.

And though no toy is more ubiquitous to dogs than the tennis ball, not all ATP and WTA canines are necessarily fans. Some chase them; some disdain them. “If I throw him a tennis ball he just looks at me and says, ‘OK you run and get it,’” Djokovic says of Pierre.

Serena Williams of the U.S. and her dog Chip pose in the cloakroom after winning the French Open Tennis tournament against Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Saturday, June 6, 2015. Williams won 6-3, 6-7, 6-2. (Corinne Dubreuil, FFT, Pool via AP)

Wozniacki, on the other hand, trained Bruno not to chase tennis balls, or any yellow ball. “We said no because when I’m practicing I want him to be at the side of the court,” she says.

On the flip side, dogs jump for joy, wag tails, lick faces and gaze up adoringly. Players who don’t take them on the road describe giddy reunions when they reunite back at home. “My best moment is when I come from a trip and I open the door and my dog starts running in circles,” Jankovic gushes.

“I think we all need distractions, something to look forward to when we come back home—the unconditional love you get from pets,” says Nadia Petrova, whose French Bulldog, Lulu, stays at her base in South Florida. “They are the best therapists.”

And while there are challenges, the bond between master and dog runs deep, even for some of the world’s least stationary athletes. “We’re all one family,” says Djokovic.

Williams says she would travel more regularly with Chip (above) and her other dog, a Maltese named Lorelei, if she could. But even that would barely suffice, says the American great. “I could live with 100 of them if I had the time.”

Bethanie Mattek-Sands cuts an impressive figure whenever she steps onto the tennis court. It’s kind of difficult to miss her, after all.

She has orange hair. At the US Open this year, Mattek-Sands has already drawn headlines and social media posts for her rule-pushing outfits, including a skirt that matched her ponytail She called it electric melon. Naturally.

But while Mattek-Sands, who has already won two Grand Slam doubles titles this year, may get the attention for her outfits, she should be getting it for her play. She defeated CoCo Vanedeweghe in straight sets in the second round of the Open, notching a matchup with world No. 1 Serena Williams. No one expects Mattek-Sands to win but the Minnesota native is focused on the task at hand, even if her hair is vaguely distracting. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Mattek-Sands Has Been Dubbed the ‘Lada Gaga of the Tennis World’

Mattek-Sands has developed a reputation as one of the biggest characters in the tennis world, thanks in large part to her colorful apparel and hair as well as her signature knee-high compression socks. Right now, the right-hander is sporting orange hair.

Some of Mattek-Sands most memorable outfits include leopard print looks at the 2004 and 2007 US Open,as well as  “soccer theme” at the 2006 Wimbledon Championship. However, nothing can top the ensemble she wore to the 2011 Pre-Wimbledon party in London, a fluorescent green dress by designer Alex Noble that featured tennis balls and a Mohican-style hat. The look garnered her the name “Lady Gaga of the tennis world,” from The Daily Mail.

Mattek-Sands may not be afraid to take fashion risks on or off the court and her daring dresses have helped earn a few benefits, including being chosen by Google as the first pro athlete “Glass Explorer.”

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2. She’s a Four-Time Grand Slam Champion in Doubles

While Mattek-Sands career as a singles player has been up-and-down, her success in the world of doubles has been unquestionable. She and fellow tennis standout Lucie Safarova teamed up just before the 2015 Australian Open, going on to win the title at the Grand Slam event. The pair then went on to win at the French Open as well and most recently recorded a title at the Rogers Cup in Toronto.

When she isn’t competing with Safarova, Mattek-Sands has found success in the mixed doubles world as well. She won titles at the 2012 Australian Open with Horia Tecău and the 2015 French Open with Mike Bryan.

3. Mattek-Sands Married Justin Sands in November 2008

Mattek became Mattek-Sands on November 29, 2008 when she married insurance executive Justin Sands in Naples, Florida. According to his LinkedIn page, Justin is the founder of the JPS Insurance Group and obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany in upstate New York.

Mattek-Sands was just as eccentric as ever during the wedding ceremony as well, wearing a black dress.

The couple, who live in Phoenix, Arizona, have a 140-pound Boerboel mastiff named Ruger who is the subject of a good chunk of Mattek-Sands’ social medial posts.

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4. She Played in her First WTA Tour Eent in 1999

Mattek-Sands has been on the professional tennis for years now, making her first WTA appearance in 1999 when she received a wildcard to qualify for an event in Philadelphia. The Minnesota-native fell in the first round of the event.

Since then, Mattek-Sands has been a fighter in every sense of the word, battling for position on the singles circuit over the past decade and a half. She played in her first Grand Slam in the 2000 US Open, once again given wildcard entry through the qualification rounds.

The 2015 US Open marks the thirteenth time that Mattek-Sands has competed in Flushing, Meadows. She is currently being coached by Adam Altschuler, playing with what WTA described as “a versatile, all-court style combining speed, determination, skill and agility around the net.”

5. Mattek-Sands Highest Ranking Came in 2011

After more a decade on the pro tennis circuit, Mattek-Sands reached her career-high singles ranking at No. 30. The jump came after she notched the biggest victory of her career, defeating then-world No. 7 Francesca Schiavone in January.

She reached her third WTA singles final in the 2011 Moorilla Hobart International before falling to Jarmila Groth. Mattek-Sands also competed in the French Open, making it to the third round. She was upset in the first round of Wimbledon that year, falling to No. 133 Misaki Doi.

Mattek-Sands is currently ranked No. 101 in the world singles rankings. She is, however, rankedNo. 3 in the world doubles rankings, the best of her entire career.

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