Thousands of kids aged 12 to 15 will participate in extensive trials over the coming weeks, all vying for selection as an official Australian Open ballkid in 2026.
Beginning this weekend, level one trials will be held at 20 tennis clubs across Victoria for the next month, followed by level two trials for returning and successful level one ballkids on 19-20 July.
The final AO 2026 squad of around 400 ballkids will complete a minimum of four on-court training sessions and an official induction and orientation day, where they will learn about the tournament and the important role they play.
Training includes drills to develop ball handling skills, rolling with precision, and anticipating players’ needs. The final step is perfecting the march on and off court.
On-court skills are mastered at the Australian Wheelchair Tennis Nationals in November, as the squad builds towards peaking for Australian Open 2026, where the main draw kicks off on 18 January.
While the spotlight shines on the world’s top tennis stars during the AO, the unsung on-court legends are the incredible ballkids who demonstrate sharp skills and composure in front of packed crowds and millions of viewers tuning in across the globe.
These skills are centred in the documentary Ballkids, which premiers in Australia this weekend at the Gold Coast Film Festival.
Presented by AO Originals and produced by Run Wild Productions in association with Mischief Media, Ballkids traces their journey through the selection process, the rigorous training program, and the highs and lows of the tournament.
The film will be available to watch on the Australian Open’s YouTube channel later in 2025.
Many Australian Open ballkids have gone on to become sporting stars in their own right, including St Kilda Football Club’s Jack Billings, Carlton’s Darcy Vescio and more recently, North Melbourne’s Blake Drury.
Level one trials begin at Melbourne Park on Saturday 3 May and will continue at tennis clubs across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria until Sunday 1 June.