QUEENS, N.Y. — On the court this week at the USTA National Tennis Center, home of the US Open, I was not hitting balls, but chasing them. I got a serious workout going through the tryout that potential ballpersons will experience the week of June 21, in anticipation of this year's US Open which begins August 30.

Tiahnne Noble is in charge of finding 65 new ballpersons to join 135 who are returning.

“They are there to have a seamless transition of the tennis match, service the players and just be in the background picking up the balls making sure they go from end to end," Noble said.

I got some tips from some experienced ball persons, who say it's all about hand eye coordination, speed, and focus. It's not easy, but what a way to be close to the action.

"We're supposed to be watching the ball but we get a pretty good view to all the points to so it's exciting," said Camilla Trapmess of Manhattan, a ballperson.

"I played tennis growing up, looked up to these players, and once I was able to try out I tried out and it's been the best job ever," said Charlotte Goldbaum, who grew up nearby in Old Westbury.

The USTA could not hold in-person tryouts last year, they are expecting 200 to 300 folks to give it a shot this year. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age. For my review, I went to veteran Ballperson and Supervisor Sal Chan, who grew up a lob from the tennis center in Queens.

"You could be a little faster, I thought the picking up of the ball was good, the rolling was really good, the speed need some work," said Chan, who has been on the courts for the open since 1998.

Kyle Camacho from Queens had a similar take.

"As long as you are aware, as long as you know where the ball is going, you will be fine, just don't trip," Camacho said.

If you think you've got what it takes, head to https://www.usopen.org/en_US/content/us_open_ballperson_tryouts.html.