You see them in the background. They are blurs of navy and neon, sprinting across the blue hardcourts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Most people just call them the US Open ball girl or ball boy, but inside the tournament, they are known as "ball persons." That change happened back in 1988 because, honestly, calling a 30-year-old athlete a "girl" or "boy" felt a bit weird once the age limits were lifted.
It is a brutal job.
Think about it. You are standing in 95-degree heat with 90% humidity in Flushing Meadows. You can't move. You can't wipe your sweat. You have to anticipate whether Novak Djokovic wants the ball from the left corner or the right before he even asks. If you fumble a bounce, 23,000 people in Arthur Ashe Stadium might groan in unison. It’s high-pressure theatre, and the pay is basically minimum wage plus some free Ralph Lauren gear.
The Myth of the "Easy" Catch
People think being a US Open ball girl is just about playing fetch. It isn’t. It is about "the feed." If you watch closely, there is a specific way they have to roll the ball across the court. It has to be flat. No bouncing. If it bounces, it slows down, and the rhythm of the match breaks. Players get cranky.
The evaluation process is legendary for its intensity. Every year, over 1,000 people show up for tryouts in Queens. They only take a fraction of them. They aren't just looking for speed; they are looking for "court awareness." Can you track a 130mph serve with your eyes while staying perfectly still? Can you handle the "lob"—that over-the-head toss to the server that has to land perfectly in their palm?
Tianna Wallpher, a former college lacrosse player who became a viral sensation for a one-handed snag during a match, proved that these athletes are often more coordinated than the people they're shagging balls for. She didn't even flinch. That’s the standard.
Age Is Just a Number in New York
Unlike Wimbledon, which traditionally uses local school children, the US Open is famous for its "open" policy. You’ll see 14-year-olds scurrying next to 50-year-old school teachers. There is no upper age limit. This creates a weird, beautiful ecosystem. You have retirees who have been doing this for thirty years because they love the best seat in the house, and you have D1 athletes trying to stay sharp.
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Actually, the older crew often handles the pressure better.
The kids sometimes get "the yips." Imagine being 15 and having Serena Williams stare you down because you weren't fast enough with the towel. In the past, ball persons handled towels, but COVID-19 changed that. Now, players have to get their own towels from racks. This was a massive relief for the crew. No more dealing with "towel DNA," as some of the vets used to joke.
The Physical Toll Nobody Talks About
The footwear matters. Ralph Lauren usually provides the kits, and if those shoes aren't broken in by day three, your feet are basically raw meat.
- The Sprints: A "net" position ball person might sprint 50 times in a single set.
- The Stand: "Back" positions have to stand like statues for upwards of 45 minutes.
- The Heat: On-court temperatures on the hardcourts can reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
There are "ball person" doctors on site. They focus almost entirely on hydration and patellar tendonitis. If you see a US Open ball girl suddenly swap out mid-set, it’s usually not a scheduled break. It’s because someone is about to faint or their calf cramped so hard they can't pivot.
Dealing With Player Personalities
Every player is a different "shift." Some are easy. They don't look at you, they don't talk to you, they just expect the ball to be there. Others are... particular.
Take Rafael Nadal. His pre-serve ritual is a choreographed dance. The ball person has to know exactly when to offer the balls. You don't just shove them at him. You wait for the hair tuck, the ear tug, the nose touch. If you interrupt the flow, you feel the energy shift in the whole stadium.
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Then there’s the speed. A ball coming off a deflected serve can hit a ball person at 100mph. You are taught to "take the hit." If you try to dodge it, you might distract the player or end up in the path of the ball, which stays in play. You just stand there and hope it hits a meaty part of your leg.
The Viral Moments and the Pressure
Social media has made the job harder. Twenty years ago, if a US Open ball girl tripped, only the people in Section 102 saw it. Now, it’s a TikTok within six minutes.
We saw this in 2021 and 2022 when several ball persons were praised for their "insane" catches. But for every viral catch, there’s a moment of sheer terror. If a ball hits the net cord and drops, the net person has to scramble. It’s a literal 4-yard dash. If you slip on the white paint of the baseline, it’s a highlight reel you don't want to be on.
Training Like a Pro
The training sessions in June and July are basically boot camps. They use "simulated matches" where coaches scream "BALL!" and people have to react. They practice the "statue" pose. They practice the "roll."
One of the most difficult things to master is the communication. Ball persons use hand signals. A closed fist means "I have no more balls." An open palm with three fingers means "I have three." This silent language allows the chair umpire to keep track of the ball rotation without saying a word.
The Logistics of the Uniform
It’s not just a t-shirt. The gear is high-tech, but it’s still heavy when soaked in sweat. Most of the crew gets two or three sets of clothes for the entire two-week tournament. That means a lot of hotel sink scrubbing or late-night laundry runs.
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The hats are the most important part. The sun in late August in New York is unforgiving. A hidden secret? Many of them tuck ice packs under their hats during changeovers or keep "cooling towels" hidden in their pockets.
Why Do They Do It?
It isn't for the money. After taxes, the paycheck barely covers the commute from Jersey or Long Island.
It’s the proximity. You are literally three feet away from greatness. You hear the grunt of the serve. You smell the new can of Penn balls. You hear what the players mutter under their breath when they think the mics aren't picking it up.
For a tennis fan, being a US Open ball girl is the equivalent of a football fan being allowed to stand in the huddle during the Super Bowl. It’s a front-row seat to the most intense physical sport on the planet, provided you’re willing to sweat through your socks to get it.
Getting Involved: Practical Steps
If you are actually thinking about trying out for the 2026 season or beyond, don't just show up and hope you're fast.
- Work on your "dead" throw. You need to be able to throw a tennis ball 60 feet on a straight line without an arc.
- Master the one-handed snag. If you use two hands, you look like an amateur.
- Build your leg endurance. Spend an hour standing on concrete without shifting your weight. If you can't do that, you won't survive the first round.
- Watch the "Back" position. Everyone wants to be at the net, but the "Backs" control the ball flow. Study their movement patterns on the broadcast.
- Check the USTA website in early May. That is when the registration for tryouts usually opens. It fills up in hours.
The US Open is a grind for everyone—the players, the fans, and especially the ball crew. But when that night session under the lights starts, and the crowd is screaming, being the one to hand the ball to the winner of the match is a high that's hard to find anywhere else.
Actionable Insights for Aspiring Ball Persons
- Footwear Strategy: Never wear brand new shoes to the tryout or the first day of the tournament. The "break-in" period should happen in July. Use moisture-wicking socks to prevent the inevitable blisters that come from the heat of the hardcourts.
- Peripheral Vision Training: Practice tracking a fast-moving object while keeping your head still. This "quiet eye" technique is what scouts look for during the evaluation phase.
- Hydration Loading: Start your hydration cycle 48 hours before your shift. Once you're on the court, it's too late to catch up; you're just managing the deficit.
- Rules Knowledge: Know the difference between a let and a live ball better than the fans do. Your reaction time depends on knowing exactly when a point is dead.