Search begins for Laver Cup London Ballkids

Young tennis enthusiasts across the UK will soon have the opportunity to take center stage at the Laver Cup and experience the event from inside the action, with registrations opening on Thursday April 16 for the Laver Cup London 2026 Ballkid Tryouts presented by UBS.

The ninth edition of the Laver Cup will return to The O2 in London from September 25–27, 2026, bringing together some of the biggest names in world tennis. World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz, World No.3 Alexander Zverev, World No.7 Alex de Minaur and World No. 8 Taylor Fritz have been named so far – as Team Europe faces Team World in the unique team competition.

Aspiring ballkids aged 12–16 can register from Thursday April 16 at lavercup.com/ballkids, for one of two Laver Cup London Ballkid Tryout locations:

Sunday May 10 at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Sunday May 17 at the LTA National Tennis Centre, Roehampton

Registration closes on Thursday April 23.

The 60-minute tryouts will be run by a team of qualified tennis coaches who will assess the kids on vital ballkid skills including agility, coordination, speed, teamwork and on-court awareness.

From the tryouts, a final squad of 18 ballkids (nine boys and nine girls) will be selected to form the official Laver Cup London Ballkid Team, embarking on a series of training sessions ahead of the tournament.

“A core part of the Laver Cup mission is to inspire the next generation and create a lasting legacy in every host city,” said Laver Cup CEO Steve Zacks.

“Our Ballkid Program gives young people the chance to be part of something truly special – not only experiencing the excitement of the tryouts but potentially stepping onto court as ballkids at this unrivaled event in global sport.”

Youngsters selected for the final Laver Cup London Ballkid Team will participate in comprehensive training sessions designed to prepare them for their important role on the iconic black Laver Cup court at The O2. The program will cover all key ballkid responsibilities—from ball retrieval and on-court etiquette, to working seamlessly with players and officials—ensuring they’re ready to perform their duties with confidence.

Laver Cup Global Sponsor UBS will once again support the Ballkid Journey.

“As part of our continued partnership with the Laver Cup, we are proud to support a program that opens the door to professional tennis and helps inspire the next generation of fans and players,” said Richard Morton, Head Group Brand & Marketing at UBS.

How to Apply

Registration for the Laver Cup London Ballkid Tryouts opens Thursday April 16 at 10:00 AM (BST) and closes Thursday April 23 at 5:00 PM (BST).

Aspiring ballkids should visit www.lavercup.com/ballkids and complete the online registration form, selecting one of the two tryout locations.

Applicants need only participate in one session which will be assigned to them based on the number of applicants for each tryout. Registration is free but tryout participant numbers are limited. If demand for the tryouts exceeds capacity, applicants will be randomly selected to participate.

Applicants will be notified of their selection status for the tryouts on Thursday April 30.

Named in honor of Australian tennis legend Rod Laver, the Laver Cup pits six of the best

men’s players from Europe against six of their counterparts from the rest of the World over

three days of intense team competition.

With London set to host its second Laver Cup following one of the most memorable editions of the event back in 2022, anticipation for top-level men’s pro tennis to return to The O2 is high.

Tickets are being sold via AXS, the official ticketing partner of The O2.

Click here to read article