Ball boys preparing to share court with the stars during Wimbledon (From Surrey Comet)

Ball boys preparing to share court with the stars during Wimbledon

7:00am Sunday 24th June 2012 in News By Clare Buchanan

The Wimbledon tennis tournament is an exciting event for any sports fan but for 28 schoolboys it will be extra special after they were selected to be ball boys.

The organisers of the All England Tennis Championships selected the Southborough High pupils to race around picking up balls and hand towels to players during the two-week tournament.

Year 13 ballboy Dave Stewart, 18, has been selected for the fourth year in a row and said he has been on court for big games featuring players such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, which he described as "amazing".

He said: "Just being there, on court, being watched by literally millions of people around the country makes me feel so proud."

The 14-to-18-year-olds have to complete a gruelling training programme before the tournament, but year nine pupil Joe Raybould said he thought it would be worth it.

He said: "We have to develop our core physical strength and flexibility and know the procedures for everything like the back of our hands."