Trinity College Beenleigh Year 9 student Chelsea Campbell recently enjoyed an unforgettable experience as a ball kid at the Brisbane Tennis International, gaining rare courtside access to some of the world’s top tennis talent.
Chelsea first learned about the opportunity in 2024 through a friend but narrowly missed out on trials. Determined not to let the opportunity pass again, she registered online in 2026 and was thrilled to be selected.
“It was really exciting to be up close to the players on court, seeing how they play and using that to help me become better,” Chelsea shared.
Throughout the tournament, Chelsea took to the court alongside World No. 1 and Australian Open runner-up Aryna Sabalenka, French star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Australians Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Kimberly Birrell.
One of Chelsea’s most memorable moments was captured on national television during one of the tournament’s most anticipated matches.
“I was on court with Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis in their second-round doubles match. When I went to service the ball to Nick, it slipped out of my hand, hit the back wall and then bounced onto the microphone,” Chelsea laughed.
Beyond the excitement, the experience provided valuable lessons.
“My biggest takeaway was learning how important it is to stay focused and calm. You can’t move or fidget, and you can’t make a mistake,” she said.
These skills have proven invaluable both as a ball kid and as a competitive player, reinforcing the importance of composure under pressure.
A member of the Beenleigh Tennis Club, Chelsea began playing tennis at the age of 11. Now 15, she continues to thrive on court, steadily improving her game and achieving success in local tournaments.
Being part of the Brisbane International was an inspiring experience that has further motivated Chelsea to push her limits.
“My goals this year are to train really hard, compete in higher-level tournaments and continue improving my match performance so my UTR ranking keeps rising,” she said.
Looking ahead, Chelsea hopes to secure a scholarship to an American college, where she plans to pursue becoming a Division 1 tennis player while studying criminology.
When asked what she loves most about tennis, Chelsea said it’s the friendships she’s formed along the way.
“Definitely making friends at tournaments and at my club. When you compete in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, you often see the same people, which makes it easy to connect and build friendships.”
