Victorian teenagers Tabitha Vockler and James O’Grady have been named Australian Open 2010’s best ballkids at the MLC Most Outstanding Ballkid Awards.
Vockler from Mount Eliza, and O’Grady from Ballarat, were selected from a total pool of 316 Australian and Korean ballkids for their outstanding communication, teamwork and performance on court, each winning a cheque for $1000 from MLC and the opportunity to ballkid at both the men’s and women’s finals.
A keen tennis fan O’Grady took up ballkid duties five years ago, deciding to give it a go with a couple of friends. Coming to the end of his final year as a ballkid O’Grady, who turned 16 yesterday, said he was delighted to have won the boys’ award. “I’m pretty surprised,” said the 16-year-old. “It’s not something I ever dreamed I would achieve.
"I’ve learned so much from being a ballkid. It’s taught me social skills because I have to interact with so many different people, and it gives you the ability to deal with situations you don’t expect to arise,” he says. “It helps you to think on your feet because stuff that happens on court can surprise you.”
A ballkid for the past three years, Vockler is hoping to return to Melbourne Park for one more year of ballkid duties before taking another role at the tournament. “I’m really thankful for the great opportunity, being an MLC ballkid is a lot of fun,” said the 14-year-old. “When I was young and starting out I would look up to the older ballkids and think ‘wow’. Now I try to set a good example for the younger ballkids coming up.
“I like being close to the players and meeting new people. It takes concentration and dedication to be a successful ballkid. You have to run as fast as you can and get what the players want quickly and efficiently.”
Both ballkids said they would be banking most of their prizemoney with Vockler planning to splash out on some shoes and O’Grady saying that he would be treating himself at his local sports store.
Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood praised all this year’s MLC Ballkids for their diligence in servicing the needs of the players on court, and for brightening up the days of spectators and fans watching on television all around the world.
During Australian Open 2010 the MLC Ballkids serviced hundreds of matches over 14 days of Grand Slam competition, three days of qualifying and for an additional 13 days during the December Showdown and the Australian Open Play-off.
The MLC Most Outstanding Ballkid Awards are presented to the ballboy and ballgirl who have demonstrated exceptional conduct, performance and attitude towards the important role they play at the Australian Open.
MLC Ballkid applications will be open from 22 – 31 March 2010.
Watch the 2010 Australian Open live online at bet365 > Live Streaming Tennis