Meeka Lewis from Devon Meadows will be a ball girl at the Australian Open beginning this month.By Bridget Brady
A DEVON Meadows teenager will rub shoulders with some of the world’s best tennis players after being chosen as a ball girl for this year’s Australian Open.
Meeka Lewis, who just turned 15, will be one of more than 300 MLC Ballkids at the upcoming Grand Slam from across the country and the Asia Pacific region.
This will be the first time Meeka has been a ball girl, after hearing about its perks from friends.
The Casey Grammar School student plays tennis at her local Devon Meadows club and said she was looking forward to catching a glimpse of her favourite player Novak Djokovic, who won his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2008, and Serena Williams.
“I think he (Novak Djokovic) has got a brilliant forehand and backhand and he is very funny as well, off the court,” she said.
Meeka said she started selection trials in March last year and has been busy training throughout last year.
“A lot of the stuff we do looks quite easy. But there are a lot of background rules and regulations,” she said.
“It’s nowhere near as easy as it looks.”
Meeka said she thought the ball kids at the Australian Open were a professional unit, and had a good reputation to live up to.
“We always look good and like we know what we’re doing. We have a really big tradition to uphold.”
Meeka said she was extremely excited about taking part in the event that would be followed world-wide.
“I am quite nervous but I think with the support of my friends and family I should be fine.”
