Among COVID-safe measures, ball kids will be allocated to one of three lounges across Melbourne Park, instead of one big lounge.
Kids will no longer handle playersâ towels or drink bottles. They will handle tennis balls as normal but will be encouraged to use hand sanitiser. They donât have to wear masks.
Ball kids arenât paid but get a daily allowance for food and transport and keep their uniform (designed by Ralph Lauren) and other goodies, which last year included Apple AirPods, gift cards and backpacks.
Ms Mace said they were told to âhold on to your hatsâ because members of the public had tried to pinch the legionnaire-style cap with side flaps. âTheyâre hot property,â she said.