For most tennis fans, the Laver Cup is an opportunity to see the world’s best tennis players compete in a unique team-style format. However, for brothers Riley and Lucas Huang, who both play on Menlo’s varsity tennis team, the Laver Cup gave them something even more special: the chance to serve as ball boys on one of tennis’s biggest stages.

Sophomore Riley Huang described the tournament in simple terms. “If you watch basketball, it’s kind of like the All-Star game,” he said. Two teams, one featuring the best players from Europe, and the other showcasing the best players from the rest of the world, face off in a 3-day, team tennis clash. “[The Laver Cup] has the same gravitational pull as a Grand Slam tournament,” Riley Huang said.

The selection process for the brothers was tedious, with hundreds of kids trying out, all hoping to share the iconic black Laver Cup court with the world’s best players.  However, only 24 were chosen. “There were so many people applying and only so few spots,” Riley Huang said. “Honestly, I didn’t even expect to get in.”

Junior Lucas Huang remembered how stressful the wait was. “Riley actually got his [acceptance] email first, and I thought there was no way I’d get in too,” he said. “When mine came after, I was just relieved.”

Once the tournament rolled around, the experience wasn’t quite what they expected. Much of their time was spent waiting behind the scenes. “We were kind of just stuck in a room the entire time,” Lucas Huang said. Riley Huang agreed, noting that most people don’t realize how time-consuming the job really is.

When the brothers were on court, their experiences were unforgettable. The brothers shared moments with some of the sport’s greatest stars. From getting fist bumps from legends like Andre Agassi, selfies from players like Alex DeMinaur, and signed gear from the great Roger Federer. “The whole experience was pretty sick,” Riley Huang said.

In the end, the brothers had different perspectives on whether they would do it again. “It was fun, but I got super behind on work,” Lucas Huang said. “If I could do it for the first time again, I would — but probably not a second time.”

Riley Huang felt the opposite way. “I would definitely do it again,” he said. “It was a really eye-opening experience.” He also felt that the best part wasn’t just the tennis. “Being a ball boy with my brother at such a prestigious event was kind of unbelievable,” Riley Huang said. “I’m really grateful I could share that core memory with him.”