BALL KIDS
Would you like to be part of the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open 2026 as a ball kid? Dream of being courtside alongside the world’s top players and experiencing the excitement of an ATP 250 tournament from the inside? Sign up and become part of the team!
To become a ballkid at the European Open, you must:
- Be at least 12 years old (there is no maximum age).
- Be affiliated with a tennis club.
- Have a good understanding of tennis rules, scoring and match flow.
- Be physically fit and able to move quickly on court.
- Be focused, disciplined and able to work as part of a team.
- Have good ball skills (rolling, catching and coordination).
- Be punctual and respectful of schedules.
- Have a basic knowledge of English.
No. There is no maximum age to become a European Open ballkid.
You don’t need to compete at a high level, but you must:
- Be a member of a tennis club.
- Understand the rules and flow of a tennis match.
New candidates can register through the official New Candidates EO 2026 registration form.
New candidates first attend a test day where both physical skills and understanding of ATP-level match flow are evaluated.
Test Day
• Sunday, August 9, 2026
• 10:00–13:00
• Uccle Sport
Attendance at at least one of the training sessions is mandatory. You are, of course, welcome to attend both.
Training Session 1
• September 12, 2026
• 10:00–13:00
• Top Sport Centrum / AZUA (Wilrijk)
Training Session 2
• September 13, 2026
• 14:00–17:00
• Blue Lions Hockey & Tennis Club (Tervuren)
The final selection is based on:
• Performance during the selection process
• Previous experience
• Availability during tournament week
Availability is one of the most important selection criteria.
Candidates who are available for multiple days—especially during weekdays (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday)—have the best chance of being selected.
New candidates must also be available on Saturday, October 17, which includes training and the first matches.
We encourage candidates to be available for several days throughout the tournament. Candidates who are only available for one or two days are unlikely to be selected.
You should arrive approximately one hour before the scheduled matches.
Typical shifts are:
• Day shift: until approximately 18:30–19:00.
• Evening shift: starts around 17:30 and finishes after the last match.
Day teams remain on site until the next team has fully taken over, followed by a short team debrief. Ballkids may be scheduled for both day and evening shifts.
Ballkids rotate every 45 to 60 minutes throughout the day.
No, attending one of the two training sessions in September is sufficient. However, attendance on the first Saturday is mandatory.
If you are ill or injured, please stay home.
Being physically and mentally fit is essential to perform safely on court.
Yes, provided that both your school and your parents give their permission. Upon request, we can provide a school certificate. This certificate confirms that you are participating in our activities on school days, but it does not grant permission to be absent from school.
Basic English is required, as it is used during the tournament.
The tournament starts with approximately 75 ballkids.
For the final weekend, a smaller team of 22 ballkids is selected.
March / April
- Registration opens for new candidates.
End of June
- Training registration for experienced ballkids.
July / August
- Try-outs (TBC).
End of August
- Availability submission.
End of September
- Final selection announcement.
Saturday, October 17
- Mandatory clothing distribution and first tournament matches.
October 17–25, 2026
- European Open tournament.
Unfortunately not.
Selection depends on:
- Test day performance
- Experience
- Availability during tournament week
Even if you are not selected this year, you will remain part of the wider Team European Open community and will be invited to take part in next year’s selection process.