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As tennis has evolved over the decades, it has lent a zing of excitement to the sport. Like many elements that are so integral towards keeping it as spectator-friendly as possible, the concept of ‘ball boys’ and ‘ball girls’ infused another novelty.
In the olden days, tennis tournaments were staged sans these essential helpers. It was only in 1920 that ball boys were first introduced at the greens of Wimbledon.
Shaftesbury Homes shouldered the responsibility of providing ball boys for various tournaments in the initial years of its introduction. With the passage of time, tournament organisers started handpicking ball boys from various schools as volunteers.
Keeping ball rolling
Ball girls and boys play a key role in the smooth conduct of a tennis match. Their essential prerequisites are a strong focus on the game, agility and efficiency.
Primarily, they need to retrieve the ball during matches, pick up the loose balls, hand the player a towel, whilst also offering him or her a drink every now and then.
As the years passed by, ball boys and girls continued to be instrumental in ensuring a disruption-free tennis match. An extra incentive for them at most times is that they are in close proximity to the tennis stars.
Ball boys served the tennis courts from the 1930s to 1960s and ball girls were first introduced at the 1977 Wimbledon Championships.
Ball boys to tennis stars
There have been quite a few instances of famous tennis players starting their tennis journey as ball boys, such as Mikhail Youzhny. The Russian tennis player featured for the Hyderabad Aces in the Champions Tennis League and also guided his country to its maiden Davis Cup triumph in 2002, winning the crucial fifth rubber against France in Paris. Youzhny used to be a ball boy when Russia lost the 1995 Davis Cup final against the U.S. in Moscow.
Indian tennis’ evergreen master Leander Paes started his tennis odyssey as a ball boy during a Davis Cup match in 1986. India’s talented junior player Rishab Sharda also served as a ball boy during a Davis Cup tie in 2012.
Unsung Heroes
Ball boys and girls may seem like unsung heroes, but at the 2014 French Open a ball boy was made to feel extra special. During a rainy day, world number one men’s player Novak Djokovic swapped places with the ball boy who was assisting him. The Serbian took the umbrella, asked the ball boy to sit on his bench, and even offered him a drink, much to the youngster’s surprise.
Tennis will continue to evolve, and who knows, in the years to come we could see ball boys and girls playing a much bigger role than before and being better recognised for their much-needed efforts.
Originally published on the Champions Tennis League website here.
