The best seat in the house for pro tennis is on the court where the ballpersons are the closest to players. Here a few ballkids share some of the memories of being on the court with the pros…
* “My most memorable story was getting admonished by Agassi on court in Cincinnati because I gave him a bottle of water he asked for but I forgot to peel off the label – he wasn’t sponsored by that brand.”
* “Pat Cash gave the ballboy next to me one of his checkered bandanas.”
* Ilie Nastase was the best. Always talking and cool with us. He would give away his racquets as well. I still have the adidas Nastase Competition wood frame he gave at one of the U.S. Opens in the 1970’s.”
* “I was a ballkid for Marcelo Rios at the RCA Championships in Indianapolis. I could understand a lot of Spanish and the things he said were not appropriate to say to a minor. Every year I would get as many players as possible to autograph my event T-shirt. I don’t have a Rios autograph because I didn’t want it.”
* “Federer was playing a match against Marcos Baghdatis and he turned around and said, I’m so fu**ing off!! So I turn around to the line judge and I say, I wish I was that f***ing off. And I kinda guess I said it louder than I guess I should have. And then he ended up hearing me and turned around and said, Thank you. Anyway, the guy in the middle of a match, he didn’t need to turn around and say anything. Just the fact he acknowledged what I said and was still nice about it.’
* “I remember at the 1975 or 1976 U.S. Open we were asked to run to the nearest Waldbaum’s on Queens Boulevard to get Drakes Cakes for Martina Navratilova. She literally had a fit and the supervisor would send us to find and bring back boxes of Yodels, Funny Bones and Devil Dogs.”
* “I had a chat with Federer in Dubai. Federer was the most intimidating player to ballboy for. Not in his behavior but more the fact I was so worried about doing something wrong. Speaking to him off the court, he was so cool. But he was just such a different person as soon as he was on court. So focused, so zoned in. But still this incredible aura of calm.”
* “I was ball boy for Pete Sampras on Ashe Stadium, match. He was on the other side of the court, serving to the ad court. He served it 126 wide. An ace. And I caught it with one hand. It was a totally lucky catch. The crowd in Ashe kind of applauded. After the changeover Pete came over to my side of the court to receive serve and I was still in my position, on the back wall behind the ad court. And Pete kind of walked over to me, out of his way, before going to the deuce court, with his head down and quietly said, ‘Nice catch.’ Before walking over to his position in deuce court to receive serve.”
* “I was ballboy for a Carlos Moya match at the Lipton and he just lost and after the match he threw one of his soaking wet Nike shirts and it hit me right in the face!”
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« Previous 1 2Hartt · November 19, 2017 at 4:26 pm
The final between Dimitrov and Goffin was a close, exciting match. I am not a Dimitrov fan, but have to admit, if he continues to play like this, he will be a big threat to all the other players.
I hope Goffin is able to recover before Davis Cup, Belgium totally depends on him. He is certainly having a big ending to his season.
Scoop Malinowski · November 19, 2017 at 4:41 pm
Dimitrov is the nicest guy in tennis and quite possibly maybe in the history of tennis. I never saw him in a bad moment or hostile with anyone but always ALWAYS nice. I’m certain everyone likes Dimtrov. Even Harrison tried that silly stunt this week where he orchestrated the Brit interviewer to ask Super G absurd silly questions and Dimitrov handled it and lowered himself to the charade without showing a hint of arrogance or mockery at this silly set up. Imagine how Rios would have handled it. So it’s so nice to see Dimitrov hold on and win despite blowing four match points and really Goffin missed two shots at the end he should not have, the netted backhand CC on the first point of the final 53 game and the easy volley on the final point. Dimitrov was choking, Goffin certainly knows Dimitrov’s rep as a notorious choker at times. So it was so nice to see Dimitrov win this and hopefully he will win a major next year. Everybody would like to see this.
Duke Carnoustie · November 19, 2017 at 8:15 pm
Yeah that bit with Harrison was silly but I imagine the ATP came up with the idea. These are the clowns who came up with the Milan fashion show.
Great win for Grigor, going unbeaten. The Thiem match gave him quite a bit of momentum.
Duke Carnoustie · November 19, 2017 at 8:53 pm
Interesting women’s tennis development. Caro Wozniacki’s fiancee – NBA player David Lee – has announced his retirement. So we can expect him to be at all of her matches as she chases that elusive Slam.
We have seen how the right partner lifted Sock to new levels. I don’t know much about Lee but he figures to be a major positive influence on Caro as close as she has been. Obviously Serena will have a say but expect the Woz to grab her first Slam this year.
catherine · November 20, 2017 at 1:59 am
Scenario – Caroline will be all wrapped up with wedding plans and someone unheralded sneaks in and runs off with Woz’s ‘first’ Slam 🙂
catherine · November 20, 2017 at 2:05 am
3 out of 8 top men have onehanded b’hands.
Nil out of 10 top women have onehanded b’hands.
Just saying.
catherine · November 20, 2017 at 4:24 am
Sad to hear Jana Novotna has died at 49 of cancer. I loved watching her play and so glad she won Wimbledon so her name will be there.
Hartt · November 20, 2017 at 6:41 am
That is very sad news about Novotna, she was so young. The British papers are carrying stories about her and of course we all remember Jana crying on the Duchess of Kent’s shoulder after she lost that close Wimby final to Graf, and then when she had a happier meeting with the Duchess in 1998, when Jana won the title. What I did not know was that in 1997, after Novotna lost the Wimbledon final to Hingis, the Duchess told her that if she made the final again, it would be third time lucky. So wonderful that the Duchess of Kent was right about that.
catherine · November 20, 2017 at 8:01 am
Yes – that was one of the great Wimbledon moments and so right that the Duchess could give Jana her trophy in ’98. It’s been a long time since she presented the trophy to the women’s winner and I think Wimbledon lost something there. Dignity and SILENCE – no crass interviews. And imagine weeping on Sue Barker’s shoulder.
The Duchess more or less gave up public appearances for personal reasons – she went back to Yorkshire, where she came from, and spent several years teaching, mainly music I think, in a children’s school – they had no idea who she was. She and the Duke were more or less separated by then.
At press conferences after the women’s final you always knew what the first question to the winner would be: ‘What did the Duchess say to you ?’
catherine · November 20, 2017 at 8:08 am
Was Novotna the last serve/volley woman player to win Wimbledon ?
Scoop Malinowski · November 20, 2017 at 8:44 am
It’s hard to imagine that anyone didn’t want to see Novotna win Wimbledon. Terrible news to learn she is no longer with us but her memories in the sport and how she played with her fluid attacking style and slice backhand are unforgettable. Novotna gave Wimbledon one of it’s defining, special moments.
Scoop Malinowski · November 20, 2017 at 8:46 am
Probably the last serve and volley player in the WTA. Novotna or Tauziat.
catherine · November 21, 2017 at 10:06 am
The Duchess sent condolences – very nice gesture.