A ballkid dries a court at Melbourne Park.Credit:Getty Images
One parent of a ballkid who worked that match,but was not authorised to speak by tournament organisers,said their child “absolutely loved it”.
But while the kids – many of them promising junior players – may dig the late nights fetching balls for their heroes,parents can be a little more divided.
“That was nuts,” said Michelle Bannon,whose daughter worked at last year’s Australian Open,of Friday’s 4am finish. “I was thinking,‘I’m glad she wasn’t a ballkid this year because they haven’t had a good week’.”
This year the Open has a record 394 ballkids,aged 12 to 15. They’re vital to making the match run smoothly,and if you watch tennis you’ll have seen them running around collecting balls,bouncing them to the serving player,or rolling them across the court[this week you might have also seen them drying rain off the courts with towels]
Andy Murray wins at 4.05am local time.Credit:Getty Images
Australian Open ballkids don’t get paid,but they will get prize packs (which will contain an as yet undisclosed electronic gift). The real prize is intangible,though – time on court with the world’s top players and being enmeshed in the global tennis community.
Supervisor Daniel Whykes – a former AO ballkid himself – said the higher performers were put on the big courts,so the children rostered on for a night match were likely to be more accomplished. They’re on for 45 minutes and off for 45,and there are meals and snacks available throughout.