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This is an archive article published on September 2, 2004

SuperMac hunts ballboys for Aussie Open

The courts of the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association had a hallowed presence today: doubles legend Peter McNamara is in town searching for Indian...

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The courts of the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association had a hallowed presence today: doubles legend Peter McNamara is in town searching for Indian participation at next year’s Australian Open. And not in the form of players — Paes, Bhupathi and the other usual suspects will be there anyway — but tournament ballboys.

McNamara, the current tournament director of the Australian Open in Melbourne next January, said four Indian children will be selected through the same process as Australian children. ‘‘This will be the first such project in India, and I hope it will be a big motivation for the kids who come. They will get to meet the best in the business at the Open’’, he said.

Four years ago, Raju Tital, an orphan from Kolkata charity Future Hope, walked out on Centre Court to toss the coin before the ladies’ singles final. But this is probably the first time Indian ballboys will be active in a Grand Slam event.

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And McNamara — whose promotional tour includes China, Japan, Korea and Singapore — pointed out the emotional value. ‘‘It’s not that only the best players make it to a top tournament. Many players, Pat Cash, myself, we started off as ball boys and managed to reach the big stage. Only the best will be selected, and the selection process is tough.’’

McNamara and doubles partner Paul McNamee were knows as the ‘‘SuperMacs’’ back in the late 1970s and early ’80s, when they won 19 doubles titles, including Wimbledon in 1980 and 1982 and the Australian Open in 1979.

He is also conducting a three-day training camp for 20 Indian coaches and 300 youngsters, aged 7-18, selected from all over the country. The training at the camp, he said, would help separate the average players from those who’d be able to make it big at the international level.

‘‘It’s survival of the fittest’’, Mcnamara said. ‘‘Indians are naturally graceful, they have always been good on technique, but we’ve got to see if they really have it in them to go all the way.’’

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