TheSportsCampus

Sally Blain from Ringwood, Victoria and Josh Lynott from Adelaide, South Australia were named as the Most Outstanding Ballkids of Australian Open 2012 during a special awards ceremony on Rod Laver Arena yesterday.

Both aged 15, Sally and Josh will each take home $1,000 and gifts including a Panasonic waterproof digital camera and the official tournament towel.

“This is my first year as an Australian Open ballkid, I’ve been a ballkid for three years at home but this is a major step up,” said Josh who made the big trip over from South Australia to join a squad of 370 for his first Australian Open.

“I’m on the Interstate Visitor Program so when they sent me over to Melbourne I decided to stay on which was a good decision”.

Sally applied alongside 300 Victorian applicants and was inspired by her experiences on Rod Laver Arena.

“The Federer and Nadal match last night was amazing but at the Hewitt and Djokovic match the crowd went crazy at every point. It was pretty cool,” said Blain.

For Josh it was the Australian players that ranked as his favourite moments.

“Chris Guccione and Mathew Ebden were amazing because of the crowd; they were behind the players at every point”.

Ballkids add much to the colour and atmosphere of the Australian Open, this year organising their very own impromptu flashmob. Tennis fans watched on as the blue-clad crowd of more than 100 ballkids danced their way around Garden Square.

And a classic on-court catch from 15 year-old Dylan Colaci, who plucked a rare wayward Roger Federer ball from mid-air while in position at the net has gone viral, with more than 3 million views on youtube.

The Most Outstanding Ballkid award is presented to the ballboy and ballgirl who have demonstrated exceptional conduct, performance and attitude both on and off the court.

“Every year the Australian Open Ballkids are a tremendous source of pride to us, their commitment, skill and attitude is commendable and I congratulate every one of them,” said Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood who presented Sally and Josh with their trophy and cheque before the men’s semi final on Rod Laver Arena.