Before the start of the main draw, organizers arranged meetings between players and puppies from a New York shelter. Coco Gauff, Leylah Fernandez, and other athletes suddenly sat on the floor and cuddled dogs instead of their usual serious preparation. As a result, photos from the training session looked something like this: "In two days, the Grand Slam tournament. Today — a puppy."
At the US Open, they found perhaps the most effective way to combat pre-tournament stress.
No meditation.
No breathing exercises.
No long conversations with sports psychologists.
They simply brought puppies.
Before the start of the main draw of the US Open in New York, tennis players were given a meeting with the little ones from a local shelter Muddy Paws Animal Rescue. And the stern professionals, accustomed to fighting for millions of dollars and Grand Slam titles, instantly turned into ordinary people who saw a puppy.
Coco Gauff: the tournament can wait
One of the first to succumb to the fluffy therapy was Coco Gauff.
The US Open champion sat next to the puppies Loretta and Louis, petting them and playing with them.
Nearby appeared Leylah Fernandez, the US Open finalist of 2021.
Also joining the unusual training session were sisters Annika and Kristina Penickova and Australian Tayla Preston.
As a result, photos of the athletes looked something like this:
Coach: "In two days, the most important match."
Tennis player: "Yes, yes."
Coach: "You need to focus."
Tennis player: "Of course."
Puppy: "Woof."
Tennis player: "THAT'S IT, I'M STAYING HERE."
The puppies even had names
The main stars of the day were Louis, Loretta, Henry, and Gojo.
Moreover, the organizers did not just bring dogs for pretty photos. The event was tied to helping a shelter: event partners donated funds and necessary items for the animals.
So while the tennis players relieved stress, the puppies also got an extra chance to find new families.
The perfect preparation for a Grand Slam
Usually, before an important tournament, athletes look extremely serious.
Training.
Recovery.
Tactics.
Massage.
Training again.
And here, suddenly:
"Where is the world's number one?"
— "On the floor."
"What is she doing?"
— "Scratching a puppy's belly."
And you know what?
Perhaps this is indeed one of the best workouts for the nervous system before a match.
Because after a few minutes with a small fluffy creature, even a tie-break at 6:6 probably seems like not such a scary life problem.
Conclusion
The US Open proved for a few hours:
tennis players can endure a five-set match, a huge stadium, and the pressure of millions of spectators.
But in front of a puppy...
they don't stand a chance. 🐶🎾
