Ball kids keep Montreal's National Bank Open courts humming—and stay out of the spotlight

When tennis fans watch the National Bank Open at IGA Stadium starting this week, their eyes will follow world-ranked players and the occasional cheeky drop-shot. But those same fans will miss the real operators on court: the ball kids.

Ball kids do far more than pick up tennis balls. They move balls from one side of the court to the other without drawing any attention—a job that demands focus, speed, and precision. "It's way more technical than people think," said ball kid Lucas Younan. "You have to watch all around the court to see where the ball is and to see where other ball boys are and if the ball is with them."

There will be eight groups of 12 ball kids at the tournament. By the final singles and doubles matches, only two groups remain. Members range widely in experience and age, but all share specific traits: passion for tennis, athleticism, and the ability to throw a ball with accuracy strong enough that it becomes a focal point for their training.

For repeat volunteers, the job carries a unique thrill. Sophia Craciunescu is returning for her fifth year. "When there's Canadian players, the crowd goes crazy when there's a good point. And then we're on the court, and we're trying not to smile," she said. "Because it's just like an unreal feeling."

Nicolas Beaudet, now the ball kid supervisor, started in the role himself in 1997. He looks for kids who are not just athletic but focused on the court, who understand the flow of play. "They need to be very precise, very strong, quick, and be very focused on the court and understand what's going on," he said.

This year the stadium will debut new LED screens on the centre court showing first serve, second serve, and breakpoints—a technology upgrade that will change how fans watch the game. But the ball kids' work will remain largely invisible: the way it has to be.