TENNIS fans were left baffled by the bizarre equipment being used by ballkids at the Vienna Open.
Eagle-eyed viewers watching the action at the ATP 500 event in Austria spotted the innovative piece of kit.
AFPBallkids at the Vienna Open are using racquets with nets to catch and collect tennis balls[/caption]
The ballkids are using special tennis racquets to collect and hold the balls.
But rather than a regular set of tight strings, these have been replaced with a loose net.
And it makes for a strange sight as the youngsters scamper across the court holding the frames – as if they are ready to get involved in the action.
It is understood the Vienna Open organisers have deployed the customised racquets for a few years – while some suggested the event in Stockholm also saw ballkids adopt the novel approach.
A photograph of Novak Djokovic in action in Vienna in 2020 showed a ballkid in a facemask and holding the racquet.
But it has still caught the attention of some supporters watching the action this week from home.
One fan said: “The ballkids here in Vienna have little net pouches on tennis rackets to catch the flyaway balls.
“Now I’m weirded out by normal rackets not having the pouches because it’s so fun to watch the ballkids catch the balls with that.”
Another wrote: “Love ballkids with rackets (protection) at tennis tourney in Vienna.”
A third added: “Always like seeing the ball kids in Vienna with their shrimping nets.”
A fourth typed: “I think all ballkids at all tournaments should have nets for catching balls.”
And a final user commented: “Why do the ball boys at ATP Vienna have rackets lmao.”
US Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev is the top seed at the Austrian tournament with Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans flying the flag for Great Britain.
However, Evans had to withdraw leading 4-1 in the first set against popular American Frances Tiafoe after suffering a horror calf injury that could end his 2023 season early.
EPAThe equipment has been used for a few years[/caption]