Paige Hunt, Year 9 pupil at Malvern St James Girls’ School, was given a tennis masterclass from three-times Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, as her bid to become a Barclays Ball Kid entered its final stage.
Paige was one of a hundred youngsters to be given expert tuition from Becker at the Barclays Ball Kids National Trials at the Riverside Health and Racquets Club in Northwood. Up for grabs is the prize of starring alongside world number one Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer at the O2 as one of 30 Ball Kids for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November.
She demonstrated her talent in front of Becker and Murray’s former coach, Mark Petchey, and admitted it would be a dream come true to star at the O2.
"The challenges they set really bring the best out of you" said Paige. "It would be an absolutely amazing experience to be on the same court as the best tennis players in the world and it’s a great opportunity. When I didn’t get through last year, it made me want to be selected even more this year."
Boris Becker, who along with Petchey will select the winners, believes the lucky thirty are in for a treat they will never forget when they reach the O2. "It’s quite an achievement to get picked out of thousands of kids throughout the whole county’ he said. ‘To be selected as the top 30 they really have to be good and I hear from the Head Coach that this year the standard was better than ever".
Pige is pictured with Mark Petchey.