Unsung tennis heroes

By David Nagel
A GROUP of young tennis hopefuls from the Berwick, Cranbourne and Pakenham region will share centre court with sports stars at next year’s Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
Ryan Bromley, Matthew Hodgson, Niklas Kreher, Henry Leighton, Hugh Manson, Lauren Theodore, James Whatmough, Joshua Willuweit and Tiarne Young were chosen from 1600 applicants aged between 12 and 15 to become ballkids for next year’s first major championship.
The youngsters recently underwent intensive training in the skills they will need to serve the world’s best players, when the tournament blasts off in January.
Applicants were tested on their fitness, concentration, ball skills and most importantly their attitude towards the role, with the best 370 applicants winning their way through to the final squad of Australian Open Ballkids.
Kreher said he could not wait to take on the role at Melbourne Park.
“I can’t wait. It’s going to be the experience of a lifetime,” Kreher said.
“As a ballkid, we are in the thick of the action. We get to see our favourite players up close and we also have the chance to make heaps of new friends.”
Australian Open Tournament director Craig Tiley said the ballkids played a crucial role at the Australian Open.
“The ballkids are integral to ensuring the Australian Open maintains its status as one of the premier events in world tennis,” he said.
“The players really appreciate all the work that the kids do during the tournament. They are the unsung heroes of the Australian Open.”
The Australian Open Ballkids is part of an elite group, some of whom may go on to become champion tennis players themselves. Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt and more recently, Bernard Tomic all started their tennis journey as ballkids.