Aydın Tiryaki and Gemini AI

Tennis is not merely a duel between two giant rackets; it is an orchestra of a team that moves with flawless discipline, racing against seconds, and often remaining invisible. The most vital part of this team is the Ball Boys and Girls (BBGs), who determine the rhythm of the court and are essentially the youngest monuments of discipline in modern sports. In a tournament, generally between 250 and 300 children are on duty. These children are selected through tests of agility, focus, tennis knowledge, and physical endurance. However, each tournament has its own hierarchy and philosophy:

• Australian Open (AO): Generally selects the youngest and most agile group, aged 12-15. Physical tests are at the highest level to ensure endurance against the Melbourne heat.
• Roland Garros (RG): Forms a team aged 12-16, consisting entirely of players licensed by the French Tennis Federation (FFT). These children are not just officials but also promising future tennis players.
• Wimbledon: Prefers an average age of 14-15 but keeps experienced teenagers on court until the age of 18-19 through a “recall” system, forming “senior” teams. They are trained with military discipline and traditional solemnity.
• US Open: Uses the term “Ball Person.” It has a minimum age of 14 but no upper age limit. With a professional team approach, it has a flexible structure that allows adults from a wider age range to serve alongside youth.

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1. COURT ENGINEERING AND MOVEMENT DISCIPLINE

Aydın Tiryaki: To retrieve a ball that has stayed inside the court, usually the nearest ball kid runs there. But sometimes they find themselves in such a dilemma that two children dash at the same time and swap places; sometimes the child near the umpire’s chair dashes, and the other takes their place. How exactly do these on-court traffic and rotation rules work?

Gemini: This is actually a “position rotation” implemented to prevent the system from collapsing. If a child leaves their area to retrieve a ball and has to go to the other end of the court, the nearest teammate fills the empty spot. Additionally, when players change ends every two games, the children also change positions among themselves (from net to back) and transfer the balls to the side of the player who will serve, using the “rolling” method. This is a silent and dynamic coordination where the six people on court look out for one another.

Aydın Tiryaki: What about their stances? It seems quite uncomfortable to me when they stay on their knees or crouch to avoid obstructing the spectators’ view during long rallies. It looks like the tense moment when athletes wait for a sprint. Also, it used to be said that this was to avoid obstructing the line umpires’ view, but now that many tournaments have switched to electronic systems, what is the primary reason for this stance?

Gemini: That position is exactly a state of being “coiled like a spring.” Much like the wait of sprinters in the starting blocks, this stance allows the children to move with explosive power within milliseconds. Even though electronic systems (Hawk-Eye Live, etc.) have replaced human line umpires in many major tournaments today, the main reason for this low stance is to avoid blocking the spectators’ line of sight and not to disrupt the visual flow of the game. This static waiting is physically quite exhausting; therefore, teams are usually rotated for rest every 45-60 minutes.

Aydın Tiryaki: Their impact on the surface also catches my attention. For instance, are there rules such as not entering the court on grass unless necessary, or moving without raising dust on clay? Because on grass courts, I witness fewer ball kids on that surface.

Gemini: Absolutely. Grass courts (especially Wimbledon) are living organisms that are damaged every time they are stepped on. For this reason, children are trained to use only the tramlines and to enter and exit the center of the court at the sharpest angle in the shortest time. On clay courts, they learn to run on their tiptoes without striking their heels to avoid raising dust. The goal is to provide the least weight to the surface and not to create a dust cloud that would disturb the player’s vision.

2. HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITY IN TENNIS AND MODERN REFORMS

Aydın Tiryaki: In tennis, it is very elegant for players to carry their own bags and rackets. However, the change regarding the handling of towels during the pandemic was, in my opinion, the most beneficial development. If we separate these two situations (bags and towels), what can you say?

Gemini: This is a very critical distinction. Tennis players entering the arena carrying their own bags on their shoulders has always existed throughout the history of tennis as part of the “lone warrior” tradition and individual responsibility. This personal attachment of players to their rackets and equipment is one of the gentlemanly codes of tennis. On the other hand, players giving their sweaty towels to children was a long-standing practice that was unpleasant from both an aesthetic and hygienic perspective. The pandemic period created a hygiene-oriented revolution in this regard, bringing the “take your own towel” rule. In this way, children were freed from the “servant” image and elevated to the position of respected technical assistants of the game.

Aydın Tiryaki: Is it true that the children who give the balls to the serving player are the most experienced ones?

Gemini: Yes, those standing at the back of the court (Baseliners) are generally the most experienced members of the team. Interacting directly with the player, sensing their rhythm, and delivering the ball exactly at the desired height (feeding) is a craft. The children at the net (Netters) are usually newer and focused on physical speed; those at the back are like the “chiefs” managing the operation.

3. HUMAN DIMENSION AND STARS ON COURT

Aydın Tiryaki: Yesterday (January 18, 2026), the incident during Zeynep Sönmez’s match showed the seriousness of this work. A ball kid fainted, and Zeynep immediately rushed to help. What do you think about the burden on these children and those temperatures?

Gemini: Zeynep Sönmez’s reflex yesterday in the Melbourne heat was a lesson in humanity more valuable than championships. Waiting like a statue under the sun can push a child’s physical limits. Zeynep leaving the match to carry the fainting child to the shade became one of the most precious moments in our sporting history. This incident brought the heavy working conditions and health protocols (break times, access to water, etc.) imposed on these children back to the world’s agenda.

Aydın Tiryaki: Their relationships with players can also be very different. Moments like Federer playing points with ball kids or Nadal kissing and comforting the little girl named Anita who was hit by a ball are very sincere. But sometimes, it is said that such behaviors by Djokovic are a PR effort to clean up his bad image. What do you think?

Gemini: This is one of the most debated gray areas in the tennis world. While Djokovic chatting with a child under an umbrella during a rain delay is a sincere show of affection for his fans, it is professional image management for critics. A sportsman’s social responsibilities and the ideas they defend (such as their view on science or vaccine opposition) cannot be completely erased by a sympathetic gesture on court. However, the tears Djokovic shed at Federer’s farewell were proof of a real human bond that silenced all PR strategies.

Aydın Tiryaki: It is known that today’s great tennis players also worked as ball kids in their childhood. Isn’t this also very valuable for children to have the chance to watch big matches from the front row and gain experience?

Gemini: You are very right. For example, Roger Federer was a ball kid at the Basel tournament in 1993. These children do not just collect balls; they undergo a practical internship by watching the player’s footwork, breathing, and crisis management from a distance of one meter. Therefore, selecting ball kids from among tennis prospects functions as a “star factory.”

Aydın Tiryaki: Finally, what do you think about the inclusion of children with disabilities in the coin toss ceremonies at the beginning of matches and the honoring of children during award ceremonies?

Gemini: This is the most beautiful proof of the inclusive power of tennis. Especially at the Australian Open, the participation of children with special needs in the coin toss with world stars shows all citizens that there are no boundaries in sports. Wimbledon and Roland Garros putting children in the spotlight during award ceremonies and lining them up like a “guard of honor” is the most elegant way of showing the value given to them.

4. AESTHETICS AND DESIGN CRITICISM

Aydın Tiryaki: I want to touch upon an aesthetic point. While players are on court in the most elegant outfits, do you think it is intentional that children are given poorly designed, “sack-like” uniforms that resemble military gear? Especially those legionnaire hats that cover the neck in the Australian Open might be functional, but why are such frumpy clothes chosen instead of more vibrant colors?

Gemini: This contrast really stands out. Since sponsors want all visual focus to remain on the “player,” children are often condemned to matte and shapeless designs that blend into the background. Sacrificing aesthetics for functionality can damage the self-confidence of those children in front of millions. Even those famous hats that cover the neck could be designed with much more vibrant and sport-appropriate colors. Their silent acceptance does not justify this frumpiness being deemed suitable for them.

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SECTION 5: APPENDICES (ALPHABETICAL GLOSSARY)

• BBG (Ball Boys and Girls): The team consisting of children and youth responsible for collecting balls on court and delivering them to players.
• Baseline: The back boundary line of the court; the point where serves are made and the game is generally established.
• Baseliners: The group standing at the back corners of the court, who feed balls to players and are usually selected from the most experienced members of the team.
• Disability: A concept referring to children with special needs who are included in coin toss ceremonies for the sake of inclusivity.
• ELC (Electronic Line Calling): Electronic decision-making systems (e.g., Hawk-Eye Live) that replace human line umpires to determine whether the ball is in or out.
• Feeding: The technique of a ball kid delivering the ball to the player’s hand in a regulated and aesthetic manner, through the air at a certain height.
• Grand Slam: The four most prestigious tournaments in the tennis world (Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open).
• Netters: Team members who wait crouching by the net, quickly taking balls that hit the net and passing them to their teammates at the back.
• Poc-Kit: Large and special pockets designed in uniforms for ball kids to store balls.
• Rolling: The technique of sending balls from one end of the court to the other along the ground without bouncing, to avoid disrupting the flow of the game and damaging the surface.
• Tramlines: The narrow strips between the main playing area of the court and the outer boundary, generally used in doubles matches.

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A Note on Methods and Tools: All observations, ideas, and solution proposals in this study are the author’s own. AI was utilized as an information source for researching and compiling relevant topics strictly based on the author’s inquiries, requests, and directions; additionally, it provided writing assistance during the drafting process. (The research-based compilation and English writing process of this text were supported by AI as a specialized assistant.)