Boris serves up tips for Alisha

The 13-year-old was one of more than 100 youngsters given expert tuition from Becker at the Barclays Ball Kids National Trials at the Riverside Health and Racquets Club in Northwood.
Up for grabs is the prize of starring alongside world number one Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer at the O2 as one of 30 ball kids for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November.
Alisha, who attends St Gabriel’s School, demonstrated her talent in front of Becker and Murray’s former coach Mark Petchey and admitted it would be a dream come true to star at the O2.
“I did the trials last year and did not get past the regional stage so making the Nationals this time around is a good feeling,” she said.
“But I’m hoping to go one better this year and make the team for the O2, it went really well and I had such a great time.
“It was pretty tough, we had to work quite hard and I was tired at the end but it was a lot of fun as well and I met a whole load of new people.
“I’ve been to the O2 before just to watch the tennis so to be able to be out on the court with the professionals would just be incredible.”
And Becker, who along with Petchey will selected the winners, believes the lucky 30 are in for a treat they will never forget when they reach the O2.
“It’s a great opportunity for these kids to get involved with the best tennis players in the world,” said Becker. “It’s quite an achievement to get picked out of thousands of kids throughout the whole country.
“To be selected as the top 30 the really have to be good and I hear from the head coach that this year the standard was better than ever.”
For more information about the Barclays Ball Kids programme, go to barclaysballkids.com or visit the Barclays Ball Kids Facebook page.