Karlos Viguera, 25, shifted his feet while waiting in line for the 2025 US Open Ball Crew tryouts. Since arriving early for his 4pm slot on June 20, he kept his eyes glued to the court, studying every toss, roll and sprint of the candidates preceding him. Growing up in Flushing, N.Y., Viguera was familiar with the US Open and first tried out for Ball Crew in 2016. It was during that try out, and subsequently making the team, that his love for tennis was born.
“I was a baseball player before this,” Viguera said, briefly peeling his eyes away from Practice Court 5. “Now, I'm a tennis player.”
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) received approximately 1,600 applications for the 2025 US Open Ball Crew, about 200 more than last year. Viguera was one of the 480 applicants invited to the in-person try out, where candidates compete for one of the 80 available slots.
“It’s the best summer job you could have,” said Neal Kitson, US Open Ball Crew lead. “For those Ball Crew members who have full time careers, they either take the time off or work remotely to spend two to three weeks with us at the US Open.”
Joining the US Open Ball Crew is undeniably exciting. Donned in Ralph Lauren uniforms, Ball Crew members get an up-close-and-personal view of one of the world’s greatest sporting events as well as the sport’s greatest players. They’re as much of an on-court fixture as the players themselves, an integral part of the tournament. Not to mention, the job is fun.
“This is the best job in the world, that's why we all keep coming back,” said Laray Fowler, who’s new to the supervisor position, but has been a member of the Ball Crew for 28 US Open tournaments. “I’ve made lifelong friends with a lot of people here. And being able to work a Grand Slam, not a lot of people can say they've done that.”
However, the perks come with significant responsibility.
“We want to make sure they have a great experience, because that's what it is: a great experience,” said Harry Villareal, a US Open Ball Crew supervisor, who’s responsible for helping make selections. “However, we're also here to do a job. We're here to serve the players and make sure match play goes without a hitch.”
The Ball Crew tryout experience
As candidates trickled into the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on tryout day, the Ball Crew supervisors convened on the practice courts. They exchanged reminders and tips about key evaluation points, such as paying close attention to the precision of a ball toss or a candidate’s focus on court. Many of these supervisors have worked together for years, creating a welcoming atmosphere and an energetic vibe that helped motivate the candidates. At the end of the day, the supervisors just want candidates to enjoy themselves and have fun.
“This is tennis, not brain surgery,” said Kitson when addressing the first group of candidates. “We’re here to have fun, and the supervisors are here to help you. If you make a mistake, throw it to the side and keep pushing.”
That afternoon was warm, and there wasn’t a spot of shade in sight. The environment made for good US Open preparation, Kitson said, since Ball Crew members have to prepare for lengthy matches in the blistering summer heat.
The candidates were broken up into groups of 30 and all performed a 25-minute try out. Each group begins with a warm up and shuttle runs across the courts. Then, they’re evaluated on ball tosses, ball rolling and ability to service a player. An example of a servicing drill includes running across the court from the net post to retrieve a ball, and then rolling that ball down the court to another Ball Crew member standing in the back court.
Flanked with digital tablets, supervisors floated around the court evaluating candidates on four key pillars: speed, agility, hand-eye coordination and ball-rolling ability.
“We’re keeping track and scoring them in real time, ranking one to five in those four pillars,” said Fowler. “Everyone is getting the same amount of time in the same tryout. No one's getting anything different.”
Cameron Shull, 17, bounced up and down waiting in line for her turn. She was very excited for her first-ever Ball Crew tryout, but her enthusiasm was accompanied by nerves. To prepare for tryouts, she watched tutorial videos and practiced rolling the ball with her family dog. She glanced at her mom with hopeful eyes before jogging onto the court.
The majority of this year’s contenders were teenagers, with approximately 90 candidates over the age of 18.
“Anybody can try out,” Kitson said. “We often have people from all different sports backgrounds, and this is a great way for people to have their first engagement into tennis.”
No one expects the contenders to be perfect. Supervisors also teach along the way, offering helpful pointers and advice. A candidate’s attitude and response to feedback can say a lot.
“Enthusiasm is really key. You don’t necessarily have to be the fastest if you have a great attitude on the court,” said Villareal, who spent 37 years on the US Open Ball Crew and the last eight years as a supervisor. “How effectively they're focused and listening could be the difference.”
The drills weren’t easy. Ball Crew involves more cardio than one might think. When Viguera took the court, he remained laser-focused on instructions. His tennis shoes squeaked as he sped across each line in shuttle runs. He intently absorbed feedback and tried smoothing out his ball rolls with each turn. When his 25 minutes were up, he came off the court out of breath, but with a smile on his face.
Viguera felt like his try out went well and was proud of his performance. He’ll know whether or not he made the team within the next week—and he’s certainly hoping for a positive outcome. When asked about why he wants to be on Ball Crew again, a glimmer danced across his eyes.
“You're part of the game,” Viguera said.
