<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1DwyDn_0vlQuwn900" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1DwyDn_0vlQuwn900" width="497" height="800" ><figcaption>Jericho High School senior Anvit Vemuri served on the ball crew at the US Open Tennis Championship in Flushing Meadows.</figcaption></figure>It was a great end to the summer season for Anvit Vemuri, a senior at Jericho High School. The seventeen year-old student was chosen as a ball-crew member at the 2024 US Open Tennis championship in Flushing Meadows, Queens. He was one of three hundred-twenty ball-crew members to work at the event, which took place from August 26 to September 8.Vemuri said that he initially filled out the application for the position in March after receiving it online from the US Open website.“I was asked about my knowledge of tennis and my athletic experience and things of that nature,” said Vemuri. “I ended up being selected to the tryout portion where they tested my ability and role as a ball person.”He said that he was selected along with fourteen hundred other people to perform specific tasks, including picking up balls from the net and court area in a timed and simulated manner.“It was stressful because we had ten people examining us picking up and retrieving the balls from all different areas of the tennis court.They wanted to see our physical prowess as well as our quick decision-making skills in real time.”Vemuri ended up being chosen as a member of the ballcrew. He worked a total of ten tennis matches over the course of the event. He worked four days during the qualifying matches and a few days during the main draw session.“We were assigned one court per day and we worked in one and a half hour shifts. There were usually six of us on the court at one time, two ball people at net and four in the back.”He also helped to accommodate the players on court by getting them things like ice, water, snacks and any refreshments they needed.Vemuri said the most memorable match he worked was a Paula Badosa-Stefanos Tsitsipas mixed doubles match during the main draw session.“They were so fun to watch because of their talent and quickness around the court. It was so fun to be a part of that match,” said Vemuri.As a reward for his time as a ball kid, Vemuri received a $1,200 check and an official US Open T-shirt.He also received valuable working experience during his time as a ball boy.“I play badminton for my school and a little recreational tennis on the side, so it was definitely a rewarding and great experience to see these professional players up close and in person.”Vemuri said he’d like to continue working as a ball crew member next year, barring any conflicts he has with college.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

JHS student is ballboy during US Open

It was a great end to the summer season for Anvit Vemuri, a senior at Jericho High School. The seventeen year-old student was chosen as a ball-crew member at the 2024 US Open Tennis championship in Flushing Meadows, Queens. He was one of three hundred-twenty ball-crew members to work at the event, which took place from August 26 to September 8.