Good service: Australian Open ballboy Darcy Mintern.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
For many watching tennis champion Stan Wawrinka demolish his racquet during last month’s Australian Open, it was a case of ordinary behaviour from the sport’s elite, but for Shepparton teenager Darcy Mintern it was a moment he won’t forget anytime soon.
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Because when Wawrinka’s racquet smashed into the blue plexicushion hard court on 1573 Arena, it was that exact moment that Mintern, who was standing metres away, knew he was at the Australian Open.
The tennis-mad teenager was at his maiden Australian Open as one of the hundreds of ballkids who line the courts as the best players in the world battle it out for Grand Slam glory.
“The crowd was packed, the stands were full, it was a five-setter, the emotions were high and to have him break the racquet right in front of me it was just unreal,” Mintern, 14, said.
“You kind of realised ‘gee I’m at the Australian Open’.”
It wasn’t as if the wide-eyed youngster was overawed by the moment, far from it actually.
Months of training and practice helped keep his emotions in check as the raucous crowd reached a fever pitch in a first round contest that went the distance.
The Notre Dame student had been put through his paces since discovering in July that he would don the navy blue uniform.
“When I opened that email and saw that I had been accepted I couldn’t believe it, it was unbelievable,” Mintern said.
“We had to do trials in Kyabram and then they picked squads and then the training started.
“The trainings go for an hour-and-a-half and it’s all about trying to make sure you are ready. I actually had to miss one because of the floods and I had to make it up by doing a double session.
“We’re always being assessed and we’re trying to perfect all of the skills for the tournament.
“The trainings are intense, but they help you for when it counts.”
Memorable moment: Shepparton’s Darcy Mintern got the chance to rub shoulders with Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
And count they did.
Mintern was rostered on to be the baseline ballkid for a number of important and high-profile matches.
He serviced the quarter-final clash between eventual champion Novak Djokovic and Audrey Rublev and ended his 2023 Australian Open with a spot in the Junior Girls singles final.
“I couldn’t believe my luck,” Mintern said.
“Seeing the name Novak and on court Rod Laver Arena it was so special. When I walked onto Rod Laver, walking out on court and seeing the stands, it’s just unbelievable.
“What I remember most was a long rally and I just thought how lucky I was and then Novak smashed a winner out to the backhand, it was unbelievable.
“There would be a deadly silence on the long rallies, but the second the ball lands out the roar of the crowd was incredible.
“And it was such an honour to get a final and be on court for all of the ceremony and just being a part of all the little things make it so special. I can’t wait to apply and hopefully get back next year.”
