9 May 2024 | Tennis Victoria

More than two thousand kids aged 12 to 15 will participate in extensive trials over the coming weeks, aiming for selection as an official Australian Open ballkid for 2025.

While the world watches the best players in action at the AO, the other on-court heroes are the amazing AO ballkids who display their skills in front to thousands of fans in the stands, and millions watching the broadcast around the world.

As well as providing exceptional service to the players, and keeping the action moving, ballkids often end up in the spotlight when a classic catch, insect invasion, or accidental injury goes viral.

Level one trials will be held at 20 tennis clubs across Victoria during May and June, followed by level two trials for returning and successful level one ballkids on 13-14 July.

The final AO 2025 squad of around 400 ballkids will complete four on-court training sessions and an official induction and orientation day, where they will learn about the tournament and the important role they play. Training includes drills to develop ball handling skills, rolling with precision, and anticipating players’ needs. The final step is perfecting the march on and off court.

On-court skills are mastered at the Australian Wheelchair Tennis Nationals in November.

Many Australian Open ballkids have gone on to become sporting stars in their own right, including St Kilda Football Club’s Jack Billings, Carlton’s Darcy Vescio and more recently, North Melbourne’s Blake Drury.

Level one trial information