As if that wasn’t enough, afterwards I had tickets to watch Federer vs Nadal (Federer wiped the floor with him, unfortunately) and a doubles match at the glitzy O2 Arena. It was a great experience, almost like a West End show. I really enjoyed it. They were all so lovely and welcoming as well as showing great sportsmanship.

The Ball Kids were very professional, patient and each movement they made was precise and perfect. You could sense their effort and determined focus through their silent presence on the court, a result of the long training programme that they go through.

Thirty boys and girls aged 12-16 were selected out of 2,500 hopefuls.

The chosen Ball Kids, after a final selection at a boot camp in London, had a week’s intensive training to participate in the world’s largest indoor tennis tournament, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

The Barclays Ball Kids are working with the eight best tennis players in the world. This marks a wonderful achievement for them and an experience that they won’t ever forget.

Words by Maddie Ribton