GQ Sports keeps the ball people rolling

Each year, more than a thousand people apply to join the Ball Crew at the US Open tennis tournament. Being the only Grand Slam with no upper age limit, the ball crew draws a broad pool of talents, only a few of whom will be chosen. 

This gentle film produced by Pomp&Clout follows a group of applicants from the 2022 tryouts through the highs and lows of the selection process and into the tournament.

Suffused with a quaint gentleness, the film’s tone is set by a whimsical score composed by Jeff Melanson.

Explaining his motivation in creating the documentary Ball People, ardent tennis-fan Lazer commented: " This project was one of those sitting right in front of me my whole life. I'd observed ball people along the fringes of the television from a young age. But it wasn’t until many years later when the question finally dawned on me, 'How does one become a ball person? I wanted to find out where these applicants come from, why they want to do this, and what it’s like to try out." 

Discovering the refreshingly un-ageist US Open ball crew programme he was even more excited to profile the applicants: "This inclusivity draws people from all stages of life. And while the job itself isn’t a sport; the same rules apply: physical and mental limitations can affect your chances of making the team. For me, this poses questions of ageing, endurance, and mortality."