During Fan Week, visitors shopping at the Wilson store on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center may have seen a famous face or two as they picked out their souvenirs—but whether they recognized the stars is a different story.
Ons Jabeur and Alex de Minaur went undercover, posing as employees at the tennis shop’s outpost. De Minaur mostly worked at the cash register, while Jabeur, the 2022 US Open finalist, helped customers find what they were looking for on the sales floor.
Some people recognized the players right away, while others seemed to have no idea two of the world’s best tennis players were right in front of them.
One woman said Jabeur looked familiar, and asked if she was from Long Island. The Tunisian said she wasn’t, but then had to explain away her credential.
“I’m Aryna and my last name’s Badosa. Badosa is my cousin,” Jabeur said, using the names of two of her friends on tour to avoid blowing her cover.
“Is she? You look like her, that’s why,” the inquisitive customer replied.
De Minaur also had to adopt an alter ego: Demon, who claimed to be “from New Jersey. From the Bronx.” A native New Jerseyan heard the Aussie accent and called him out on it, saying “I’m from Jersey. You’re not from Jersey.”
The 2024 Roland Garros and Wimbledon quarterfinalist might not be from the Garden State, but de Minaur, a “Top 10 cashier,” did offer to sign tennis balls for unsuspecting customers.
But whether de Minaur and Jabeur were taking selfies with fans or just providing great customer service, both players had smiles on their faces, spreading joy to everyone they met.
