Game, set, fetch: Rescue dogs steal the show in Rio

When you attend the Rio Open presented by Claro, you'll witness Joao Fonseca unleashing forehand winners, Alexander Zverev firing clean backhands and the Brazilian crowd cheering enthusiastically. What might surprise you at this prestigious tennis event are the furry companions – dogs.

Since 2016, rescue dogs have taken centre stage at the clay-court tournament in Rio, thanks to PremieRpet's initiative promoting responsible dog adoption. During the 11th edition of this ATP Tour event, four dogs – Pedro Augusto, Nino, Belinha, and Beethoven – have charmed both fans and players alike by accompanying them onto the court.

“Social responsibility is one of the backbones of the Rio Open and, through actions like this, to use the reach of sport in an event of this magnitude to raise awareness about issues that matter to us, such as responsible animal adoption," said Thomaz Costa, vice-director of the Rio Open. "The result has been very satisfactory, people are moved by the presence and interaction of the dogs on court and every year there’s a huge demand for their adoption, which is our biggest goal.”

_{^{Photo Credit: Bruno Lorenzo}}

On Wednesday, Belinha, a three-year-old who tragically lost her mother, made a heartwarming appearance alongside Alexandre Muller. Following suit, #NextGenATP Brazilian star Fonseca walked onto the court with Nino, another three-year-old dog eagerly awaiting adoption.

All four dogs are currently available for adoption through the NGO “Adote um Bichinho RJ”, adding a touching dimension of compassion and community to the Rio Open.