Serving Up Opportunity: Being a Grand Slam Ball Kid

When Year 12 student Adelle first applied to be a ball kid, she never imagined it would take her from local trials in Melbourne all the way to the red clay of Roland Garros.

What began as an alternative way to stay involved in sport, after stepping back from playing due to a back injury, soon became a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Adelle discovered the world of ball kids through the local tennis club that her younger brother played at, joining over 2,500 applicants who try out each year for a place in the highly coveted Australian Open ball kid squad.

The assessment process for first-timers consists of an initial trial session, then progressing to a second trial joined by previous years’ ball kids.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking,” she recalls. “Everyone looked really good and like they knew what they were doing. Then in trial two, you’ve obviously got really fast rollers, really experienced ball kids. I had to find balance to show what I could do, but also try not to injure myself again. But then once I got through it was really exciting.”

The coveted skills included looking for “fast, flat and accurate rolls, and sharp movements with straight arms when throwing balls to a player.”

In recent years, Adelle has noticed a growing emphasis on physical and mental wellbeing during training. “I can tell there’s been an improvement in the skills and performance of the ball kids, which is really good.”

On the courts

 Adelle’s first year on the Australian Open courts in 2024 was full of learning moments. On the second day of qualifying, she was unexpectedly substituted from the baseline to the net, which proved to be a turning point.

“The nets are the anchors of the court. If you have good nets, you’ve got a good squad,” she explains. A supervisor noticed her skills, and from that moment she became a dedicated net ball kid, an opportunity that would shape her entire experience. “That was the day that helped me be a better ball kid for that year, and then the year after. I was able to really develop my skills, and learn how to work as a team.”

Heading into her second year in 2025, Adelle set herself a clear goal: make it onto a final. She trained hard, even rolling balls down the hallway with her brother while watching tennis on TV. (Her brother is now a ball kid at the Australian Open, too.)

The extra effort paid off, where Adelle not only reached one final, she was selected for three: Men’s Doubles, Men’s Final and the Women’s Final. “For that, I got to hold the trophy and carry it up to the stage, and up on the plinth. That was a really cool experience!

“Madison Keys (winner of the women’s Australian Open in 2025) told me I did a good job, and I was next to Jannik Sinner (winner of the men’s) in his presentation photo.”

She was further recognised with the prestigious Top Gun award, presented to the most outstanding ball girl of the tournament.

An International Opportunity

As one of two Top Gun award recipients, Adelle was chosen to attend Roland Garros in Paris. For two weeks she worked courtside during qualifying and the opening rounds of the main draw, experiencing the intensity, excitement and energy of another Grand Slam event.

She enjoyed special moments on Centre Court, including an memorable session featuring beloved Frenchman Gaël Monfils. “He is called a ‘king of the night session’ for a reason, the crowd was wild, it was amazing.”

The timing meant stepping away from school in the middle of term and returning early to go straight into Year 11 exams, but for Adelle, “it was worth it.”

Impact Beyond the Court

Adelle’s accomplishments has seen younger players at her local tennis club seeking her advice on how to prepare for ball kid trials, many of whom later earned places in the official and train‑on squads, including at events such as the Kooyong Classic.

She describes watching them succeed as “a really proud moment. Sometimes they want some advice for their rolls and servicing; I’m always happy to help out because was me, only two years ago.”

In providing advice to ball kids embarking on their AO journey, she is a believer in taking the moment in. “Just get out there and have fun. It doesn’t matter if you’re on Rod Laver or not, just be in the moment.”

Although she has now finished her time as a ball kid due to age restrictions, Adelle has her sights set on a tennis officiating journey, including participating through the Asia Pacific pathway programme, and being a line umpire at the Australian Open.

Long term, she is keen to stay connected through ball kid operations or continuing to progress through officiating levels.

Reflecting on her two‑year experience, Adelle sums it up simply: “Once in a lifetime! I was really lucky to have this opportunity out of so many people, and I was able to do the finals, carry the trophy, and go to Roland Garros.

“Those experiences will always live with me.”