They’re the backbone of tennis, beloved by millions, and whenever they walk onto the court, the crowd cheers loudest – they are, of course, the ballkids.

Every year, hundreds of ballkids take part in the Australian Open and other tennis tournaments across the country, and while they’re generally only aged between 11 and 16, the responsibilities and prestige of being a ballkid are enormous.

It’s a job that involves standing for hours on end, potentially in hot sun, maintaining strict focus while dishing out balls and towels to the players. 

Tennis Australia’s Ballkid Operations Team Leader, and former ballkid himself, Stephen Bishop, spoke to Lisa Leong about how it all works.