Making Their Case For The Open

On Thursday, June 30th, young tennis fans from throughout the area came together at the USTA National Tennis Center to compete for a position of relative fortune, fashion and fame.
The annual US Open Ball Person Tryouts were held at 4:00 p.m. at the Tennis Center, and at the 3:00 p.m. registration, there was a line of anxious applicants wrapping into the parking lot. A hefty paycheck and brushes with tennis idols are a few of the perks as well as the unveiling of the new Ralph Lauren US Open ballperson uniform. But whatever their main reason for trying out, the eagerness of every applicant was clear as they waited in line to give their best shot at becoming a 2005 US Open ballperson.
The US Open employs approximately 270 ballpersons each year. This year roughly 75 rookies will be added to the US Open ballperson corps.
Jillian Aragon from Middle Village has a strong resume. “I’ve been playing tennis a while,” said Aragon, 14. “I’ve been practicing at the West Side Tennis Club as a ball person recently too, so I hope I’ll have a good shot.” Unlike Aragon, however, most have never been a ballperson, and many do not even play tennis.
Four courts divided applicants by their ballperson “position.” There are “net” ballpersons, who must be quick and agile with strong hand-eye coordination in order to gather balls struck into the net and clear the court with as much speed as possible. Then there are “back” ballpersons, who must be able to throw the full length of the court in order to dispense of balls that are caught in the back of the tennis court. The main goal is to keep the tennis balls out of the professionals’ way.
Tina Taps, US Open Director of Ballpersons, said “The main objective is to be able to keep play moving right along, and to almost be invisible.”
One stand-out applicant was MTV personality “Deuce,” who was trying out for his upcoming CBS show “Top Spin” which will run as a series of six or seven episodes as a precursor to the Open. Of the experience, Deuce said, “It was definitely more rigorous than I thought it would be. There’s a certain craft to everything, and you have to give it credit after you see what these people go through to make the team.”
A. Veronica Thew is a freelance writer.