Abu Dhabi’s Top Ball Kids Prepare For Capitala World Tennis Championship
18 Dec, 2008
UAE, December 18, 2008: Young tennis enthusiasts selected as Ball Kids for the upcoming Capitala World Tennis Championship, a three day event in Abu Dhabi from 1-3 January 2009, are mid way through an intensive four week training programme with the ultimate reward in sight – the chance to work with six of the world’s best male tennis players including Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
Four of the clubs that hosted the Capitala Community Cup, including Armed Forces Officers Club, Abu Dhabi International Tennis Club, Beach Rotana and The Club, selected each of their four top players, aged 13 to 18 years old, to participate in the Ball Kids training programme.
“When I heard about the Ball Kids training programme, I knew I had to work really hard to be selected. I have always loved tennis and I’m so excited to get the opportunity to be so close to the action, especially if Nadal and Federer play each other,’ said Johan Lembach, aged 14.
The intensive four week training programme is hosted by Gyath Rustum, resident professional at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis complex, and involves general fitness and movement exercises, circuits, ball skills (rolling, feeding, receiving, work on knowledge of the game), scoring (e.g. knowing from the score at which end should the balls be), and set pieces (marching, start and end of game, tie break, ball change, suspended play etc.)
“I’m so pleased to be chosen as a ball boy, it’s a lot of fun but it’s really hard work at the same time because the speed of a professional game is so fast,” said Stuart Bartoski, aged 16.
The four week training programme consists of three, two hour sessions per week with a specially devised programme which began on 2nd December. At the end of the programme, the Ball Kids will take part in a tournament-simulated match, judged by the tournament director Adam Barrett, who will choose the final winners.
“The children are learning to work hard and concentrate under pressure so they are prepared for the high levels of pressure in the matches during the Capitala Tennis World Championship. They are a very dedicated group who are willing to learn and work hard,” said coach, Gyath Rustom.
“After four weeks of tough training, the kids will be rewarded with a chance to work on the same court as the best players in the world. This opportunity is a chance for them to see their favorite tennis players in action and gives them a real life experience of being part of a world tennis championship” said Peter Wilding, deputy CEO at Capitala.