Latest news with #NormanBrookesChallengeCup
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Strive to survive on court: film shows the pressure ball kids face to earn an Australian Open spot
FILE - Ball kids dry the court as rain interrupted second round matches at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File) FILE - Jannik Sinner of Italy poses with ball kids and the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File) FILE - Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus helps a ball kid catch an insect during her quarterfinal against Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File) FILE - Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus helps a ball kid catch an insect during her quarterfinal against Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File) FILE - Ball kids dry the court as rain interrupted second round matches at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File) FILE - Jannik Sinner of Italy poses with ball kids and the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File) FILE - Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus helps a ball kid catch an insect during her quarterfinal against Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File) BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Formula 1 has done it, so has professional golf, the National Hockey League and the elite tennis tour. Now it's time for ball boys and ball girls to take center court in a reality-style documentary. Tennis Australia this week said 'Ballkids,' a 65-minute film, is set to 'lift the lid on the unsung heroes of the Australian Open.' It was filmed at the season-opening Grand Slam tournaments in 2023 and 2024 at Melbourne Park and will premiere May 3 at the Gold Coast Film Festival in Queensland state. Advertisement While it won't have the high-profile, episode-style format of F1's "Drive to Survive," which will start its seventh season this week, 'Full Swing' in golf or 'Faceoff: Inside the NHL, ' which is now in production for its second season, the makers of 'Ballkids' say it will chronicle the often cut-throat selection process and rigorous training program. Indeed. The documentary says that of 3,000-plus applications, only 420 are chosen as Australian Open ball kids in any given year. And that's for the right to cope with the stress of performing, at times, in front of 14,000 to 15,000 people in the main Rod Laver Arena, with millions of people watching on television or streaming sites around the world. Tennis already had 'Break Point,' which ran for two seasons on Netflix and featured players from the ATP and WTA Tours. But 'Ballkids' is set to show the 'unsung heroes who only share the court with the world's best players.' Advertisement Friendships are made early on in the qualifying process, but the kids know they're competing against each other for those coveted spots on the team. 'Nothing will fully prepared you for the pressure,' an Australian Open official says in the documentary. 'A rookie's first AO experience is like a really friendly smack in the face!' That's particularly true near the end of the tournament when the so-called 'Top Gun' winners are announced. They're the ball kids who get to work the championship finals in men's and women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles. At that point, perhaps some friendships made, and some lost. 'Ballkids' was produced by Run Wild Productions in association with Mischief Media and is narrated by Australian comedian-actor Celia Pacquola. Advertisement 'We've always known that the ball kids are integral to the smooth running of the tournament, but 'Ballkids' shows just how much effort, skill, and determination it takes to make it to the top,' said Scott Baskett, a director and producer at Run Wild Productions. 'This documentary is not just about tennis, it's about resilience, teamwork, and the pursuit of perfection — values that transcend the sport." A trailer for 'Ballkids,' which will be available to watch on the Australian Open's YouTube channel and possibly for a limited release in cinemas or streaming later in the year, can be found here. ___ AP tennis:
The Guardian
26-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Australian Open 2025: the best images from women's and men's finals
An aerial drone view of Rod Laver Arena during the women's singles final. Photograph: Tennis Australia/AFP/Getty Images Madison Keys in action against Aryna Sabalenka. Eight years ago the American was beaten in her only previous appearance in a grand slam final at the 2017 US Open. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images Aryna Sabalenka won the 2023 and 2024 titles in Melbourne but was unable to follow up with a hat-trick in 2025. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images Madison Keys reacts to converting match point. The American reached No 7 in the world as a 21-year-old but has not reached those heights again. Photograph:Sabalenka places a bag of ice to her face in the hot conditions. Photograph: Ng Han Guan/AP Sabalenka destroys her racket after losing to Keys. Photograph:Madison Keys: 'Honestly, my only goal was to make sure that I played how I wanted to play, and not have any regret'. Photograph:Italy's Jannik Sinner (right) and Germany's Alexander Zverev contested the men's final. Photograph: Edgar Su/Reuters The scene is set at Rod Laver. Photograph: Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP/Getty Images Celebrities attending the men's final included actors Liam Hemsworth (top row, third left), Gabriella Brooks (top row, third right) and Jackie Chan (top row, far right). Photograph: Joel Carrett/EPA Photograph: Martin Keep/AFP/Getty Images Sinner shows off his considerable wingspan in retrieving a Zverev shot. Photograph: Vincent Thian/AP Eric Bana is seen in the stands. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP Sinner plays a forehand to Zverev. Photograph: Vincent Thian/AP Zverev is airborne but came under pressure in the first set, losing 6-3. Photograph:Sinner forced a tie-break in the second set and after going down a mini-break, prevailed to take a two-set lead. Photograph: Rachel Bach/Shutterstock Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters Sinner knew he was getting closer to retaining his title. Photograph: Martin Keep/AFP/Getty Images Zverev shows his frustration as he threw his racket in the changeover. Photograph: Tingshu Wang/Reuters Sinner closed out victory, winning in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3. Photograph: Martin Keep/AFP/Getty Images Zverev is left to mull over his defeat – the German is yet to win a grand slam and this is the third final he has lost. Photograph:Sinner celebrates with his coaches and family. Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters Sinner lifts the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images
The National
26-01-2025
- Sport
- The National
Sinner v Zverev Australian Open final
Jannik Sinner of Italy with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 to defend his Australian Open title in the final in Melbourne on Sunday, January 26, 2025. AP
