Before Monday’s start to the world’s most famous tennis championships, a sense of quiet efficiency settles over Wimbledon. Everything is in place. The landscaping is perfected so that the purple flowers and green creepers show off Wimbledon’s iconic colours in just the right blush, even as an Indian summer sun beats down on the grounds. Players and their entourages, mostly dressed in pristine white with a few outliers in all black, move between the practice courts and locker rooms. All around them is an unmistakable sight — the young boys and girls who make up one of Wimbledon’s most cherished traditions: the ball boys and girls. Fondly called the BBGs, they stand out in their famous Ralph Lauren uniforms, which in the official stores retail at eye-watering prices. They are an overwhelming presence at the Championships. Hundreds of young people work through the summer here, manning front desks, merchandise stalls, hospitality venues and the hallowed courts. They chatter away in small groups, go through their drills, roll out and roll in the covers at the uncovered outside courts, practice setting up the net posts and measuring net heights. They bring a vibrant, youthful energy to a tournament where even the biggest stars are barely out of their teens.
Watched by millions worldwide, the BBGs make their job look effortless during live broadcasts. But behind the scenes, they go through rigorous training to be selected and prepared. Becoming a coveted BBG is fiercely competitive. Around 1,000 kids from local schools and institutions apply each year, but only 250 make the cut. Of these, about 170 are new recruits from the ninth and tenth grades while around 80 return for a second year. The average age is just 15. Many spend two years on the job. It is striking to think that girls were inducted only in 1977 and made their Centre Court debut as late as 1985. On Saturday, the biggest draws for fans at the practice courts were defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Conveniently for those lucky enough to be there, they trained at two ends of the day. In the morning, Alcaraz hit with Joao Fonseca, the 18-year-old Brazilian star many believe is the next big thing. Inside the red-velvet roped enclosures of the Aorangi Practice Courts, Spanish filled the air as Alcaraz and Fonseca laughed and chatted while drilling forehands, backhands, lobs and serves under the watchful eyes of coaches Juan Carlos Ferrero and Guilherme Teixeira.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player? “I was excited about hitting with him,” Alcaraz later said at a press conference. “The last time I hit with him was in 2023. He’s not an experienced player on grass yet, but his style is aggressive. He loves to hit big forehands and go to the net. I’m sure he will get the level on grass really soon.” Just a few steps away, the contrast in resources is easy to see. Two women players slug it out on the next court with just one coach each, while Alcaraz’s practice area buzzes with an entourage of seven or eight. Nearby at the Aorangi Arena, other players focus on strength and mobility. Coco Gauff sharpens her footwork using cones while Alexander Zverev works with resistance bands and others lift medicine balls. The word ‘movement’ is heard often. Both Alcaraz and Sinner highlight its importance when they speak to the press later in the day. It feels surreal at times to walk the grounds and suddenly realise the player ahead with her trainer is Emma Raducanu or that the wavy-haired blond young man behind you is Zverev. Young kids carrying giant tennis balls have the best chance of collecting treasured autographs, as the players find it impossible to say no to tiny fans. Every few steps, stars pause for selfies with adults or bend down to sign for children. Everything at Wimbledon might look timeless and calm. But underneath it all, the grounds come alive with the energy of these young faces, who make sure every match runs perfectly — all while dreaming, perhaps, of their own Centre Court moments one day.
