TENNIS: BOTLEY’S Olivia Jagger couldn’t hide her delight after getting up close and personal with the cream of world tennis at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals last week.
Having won a nationwide competition, the Oxford High School pupil shared the court at the O2 Arena with, among others, world number one Novak Djokovic as well as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. And after her week in the spotlight, Jagger, 14 – who saw off 2,500 other children to get her 15 minutes of fame - admitted it had been an experience to savour.
“It was really good and really surreal to be on the court with the top eight players in the world,” said Jagger – who appeared in front of 35,000 spectators a day at the London event and was even on court for Federer’s final.
“Being on court for the Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal game was amazing. The crowd just went completely mental. When I ran on for that game and the crowd was that loud it was really, really good. I’ll never forget it and I think I might try and disguise myself and try and do it again next year because you’re not allowed to do it more than once.”
And former world number one and three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, who was among those to select Jagger during the initial stages of the competition, was quick to praise the Botley youngster. Jagger, who trains four times a week at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre in Abingdon, was tested on agility, endurance, ball skills, balance, speed and team-work and did enough to impress Becker and Murray’s former coach Mark Petchey.
“The kids were great on the court all week,” said Becker. “It’s not an easy task, they have to train a lot and be very disciplined and be very fit. “They were being watched by millions of people with thousands inside the arena. It was a nerve-racking thing and they did very well.”
For more information on becoming a Barclays Ball Kid at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London visit www.barclaysballkids.com
