Thirty minutes before the gates to Arthur Ashe Stadium opened at 4 p.m. on June 22, a group of individuals engaged in a unique tennis ball ritual. They gracefully rolled tennis balls across a parking lot, each participant squatting down, extending their arm, and releasing the ball to someone nearby. Meanwhile, another cluster of people gathered near a chain-link fence, anxiously performing calisthenics and clutching their paper applications.
This group of 500 individuals had already been selected from an initial pool of 1,200 online applicants. They were competing for just 120 coveted spots as ball people for the U.S. Open. Due to rain, the tryouts were moved indoors for a full week. Those fortunate enough to be chosen would join the existing team of 200 ball people responsible for serving the courts in Queens.
“It’s important to understand that this is a highly sought-after job,” emphasized Tiahnne Noble, the director of the U.S. Open Ball Crew. The applicants varied in age, ranging from 14-year-olds to individuals in their mid-70s. They came from all corners of the country, with some flying in from California, driving from Indiana, taking the subway from the Bronx, or riding the train from Connecticut. Some were avid tennis fans, others had dabbled in the sport themselves, and a few were simply intrigued after watching ball people on TV. However, the reality was that most of them couldn’t match the skills required for the job.
Interestingly, the adults seemed to be more nervous than their younger counterparts. For many of the applicants over 30, this experience was nothing short of a dream come true. Masami Morimoto, a Manhattanite who was determined to try out before turning 60, expressed her love for tennis and her excitement, unable to contain her energy.
During the 30-minute auditions, the groups were led through a series of drills that involved quick and silent ball rolling, retrieving, and tossing. The participants had to act as though they were in the presence of Novak Djokovic, prepared to meet his eye and deliver a ball upon his request.
The supervising staff members were attentive to the nervousness displayed by the applicants. Whenever an individual made a mistake by throwing a ball instead of rolling it, they quickly reassured them, comforting them with words like, “Don’t worry about it!” and returning the ball gently. However, their body language suggested that the reassurance wasn’t always heeded.
Noble and her team of experienced ball people had a keen eye for spotting potential candidates immediately. They believed that ball people needed to possess speed, agility, quick reflexes, and the ability to blend seamlessly into the background of the tournament.
During matches, six ball people would work together, communicating silently to avoid distracting the players or spectators. They had to cater to the preferences of different players, such as tossing the ball with the left hand. Essentially, they acted as invisible guardians, protecting the integrity of the game. Evaluators observed the tryouts, nodding discreetly and taking notes on their clipboards.
The auditions were not for the faint-hearted. Aaron Mendelson, who had flown in from San Francisco, humorously acknowledged the high stakes of the U.S. Open. Mendelson had prior experience as a ball person at the tournament in 1992, proudly sharing a YouTube clip of himself as a young redhead. He strolled alongside his suitcase, already planning to head straight to the airport afterwards.
The selected candidates would have to wait another week to find out if they had made the cut. Nonetheless, some were already cautiously making arrangements for accommodations. While the U.S. Open paid its ball people $16 per hour, it did not provide housing. This led Avani Kondragunta to seek recommendations for which borough to stay in, as she and her 21-year-old daughter, Alekhya, had driven for 10 hours to attend the tryouts. Alekhya had prior experience as a ball person at the Western & Southern Open.
As the auditions concluded, the prospective ball people left the court, sweaty and nonchalant. They would soon receive an email notifying them of their acceptance or rejection. For Debra Gil, a 14-year-old from the Bronx with experience working at the Bronx Open, the tryout wasn’t too difficult. Her brother had been a ball person the previous year, which further motivated her to pursue the opportunity.
After completing his tryout, Mendelson stumbled upon a group of fellow Californians who had also traveled for the chance. Both Kuangkai and Emily Tai of San Diego had tried out. When asked if they would return for the entire duration of the U.S. Open if selected, Emily responded with caution, saying, “We’ll see!” Her father, however, insistently declared that they would come, as long as they were compensated.
Interestingly, only Emily Tai received the golden ticket of acceptance through email, surprising her father, who believed he was in better shape. Although Kuangkai would not be servicing the courts, he planned to support his daughter by attending the U.S. Open.
Overall, the tryouts for ball people at the U.S. Open were a rigorous and nerve-wracking experience for the applicants. The distinct skills and abilities required became evident during the auditions. As the participants eagerly awaited the results, the prospect of being part of the U.S. Open Ball Crew was undoubtedly a significant achievement.
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