With balls able to whizzing throughout the tennis courtroom at greater than 150 miles per hour, you’re in all probability paying way more consideration to that motion than to the individuals darting round choosing up the strays. However whereas working as a ball boy or ball woman could also be no star flip, it does have its perks—particularly, the type of vantage level at main tournaments just like the US Open that in any other case carries a price ticket within the 1000’s of {dollars}.
And that in all probability explains why a whole bunch of followers flocked to the Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Heart in Queens earlier this summer season to vie for a spot on the US Open crew, as I noticed firsthand. When reps from the retailer Ralph Lauren, which designs the official uniforms, provided SELF the prospect to attend a mock tryout, I’d jumped on the alternative, desperate to see if I had what it took. Whereas my session was only for media members, it included just about all the identical stuff most of the people would undergo of their occasion just a bit whereas later.
On a blistering Friday in late June, I Ubered to Arthur Ashe Stadium to expertise an hour within the lifetime of a US Open ball particular person for myself. As I discovered, that includes much more than merely eradicating web balls: A ball particular person truly has a bunch of different duties, too, like passing balls to colleagues and servicing the gamers (extra on that in a bit). The overarching purpose: Reduce disruption to play and guarantee a seamless transition between factors.
To be sincere, I wasn’t optimistic about my very own possibilities of making the minimize. Although I performed tennis in highschool and attempt to keep pretty lively in my day-to-day life now that I am unable to fall again on after-school observe, endurance has by no means been my sturdy swimsuit, and my once-solid eye-hand coordination has declined over time. I didn’t suppose I’d be capable of run for almost 45 minutes straight, particularly not in 90-plus-degree warmth (or what felt prefer it). And while you strip away all of the little formalities, that’s just about 75% of the job description.
However I resolved to not write myself off too quickly. Once I arrived on the stadium, I turned into a complimentary (and tremendous sharp) US Open ball woman uniform—a navy visor, color-blocked polo shirt, and navy skort—and headed out to the courts, grateful that the hat supplied some safety from the beating solar. There, I met the opposite particular person “attempting out:” none apart from Peloton biking and operating teacher Matt Wilpers, whose spouse tagged alongside to seize footage.
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Courtesy of Ralph Lauren
