Being A US Open Ball Boy

by Arnav Sundaram

I’ve probably said this hundreds of times already: being a ballperson in the U.S. Open has been one of the best experiences of my life. I applied in 2018 when I was 14 years old. A few months before the tournament, they brought in all applicants for a round of in-person tryouts, selected a certain number, and then narrowed that pool down after a second round to who would be officially selected to the ball crew. Once you’ve done it for a year, you can receive an invitation back and do not need to reapply.

I’ve been a ballperson for 7 U.S. Opens, and admittedly, I have trouble distinguishing my first few years. However, I can speak in great detail about 2024 and 2025. In these years, I’ve had the privilege of being in matches deep into the tournament, such as Men’s Singles Semifinals, and for the likes of the world’s best players, including Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff. Djokovic has been my idol since I was 7, so to do his match for the first time in 2024 on opening night (with my brother, who is also a ballperson, on the same crew) was definitely unforgettable. Not to mention that every year, there are about 300 of us; the friends you make and the team-first environment we are a part of are incredible.

There really is no better seat in the house than being right behind the players on the same court. From this view, you see how well players move across the court, how fast their shots are, and one of the best parts - how the crowd erupts after points. The position also offers other perks, such as free access to the grounds at any time, the ability to keep all merchandise used for the tournament, a daily meal card, and a minimum wage payment for our hours (the only Grand Slam to pay its ballpeople). 

Ultimately, I cannot recommend the job enough. The minimum age to apply is 14, but there is no age limit! Nowadays, applicants submit an online form, are narrowed down, and then participate in the in-person tryout before the final cuts are made. The role is increasing in popularity every year; in 2025, 1,600 applied, 100 were brought into the team, and 200 were returners from the previous year. The hardest part is just getting the in-person tryout, so if you or anyone you know wants to apply, I’d do my best to put in a word and help them move forward.

Arnav is a coach for First Serve Tennis, high-level tennis player, New Jersey native, and lifetime tennis fan.