Here's what a day as a ball person at the US Open looks like
When watching tennis, you'll mostly see ball persons just popping in and out after giving and retrieving balls. While the job looks simple, there's actually more that goes into it.
About 6,500 applied to be a ball person for the US Open, which is being held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, but only 310 were accepted, as per an Associated Press report.
A video posted by the outlet gave a glimpse behind what it takes to be a ball person at the Flushing Meadows tournament.
A ball person, according to the US Open website, is "responsible for ensuring a smooth transition of play from mastering the art of rolling to servicing the players' needs throughout a match."
Some ball crew members are positioned at the net and at the back.
The qualifications seem simple enough: applicants must be above 14 years old and know tennis rules. But it doesn't end there, as they also need to have strong stamina and good hand-eye coordination.
At the end of the day, it's a paid job, and ball persons go through rigorous training before the US Open, where they'll work about 25 to 45 matches.
The typical day of a ball person at the Grand Slam tournament starts with a hype speech and notes from the Ball Crew Director. They're then given assignments and will be on and off the court for 90 minutes at a time.
"We come together like New York City, like one big melting pot, where we can learn from each other, make new friends," Neil Kitson, US Open Ball Crew Director, told AP.
"Everyone's always hyping each other up and lifting each other up, and there's never really a dull moment," ball person Rafa Jacobson also shared with the outlet.
During breaks, the crew captains assess their team's performance.
"It's about how fast you are, how flat your rolls are and how well you can service the player, but it's also about how you present yourself and how you persevere through challenges," Jacobson added.
The US Open is currently ongoing, with the Philippines' Alex Eala, world no. 18, set to compete in the third round against Iva Jovic, world no. 14.
Eala previously bested Mary Stoiana and Oleksandra Oliynykova.
