At just 15 years old, the talented Italo-Australian has been a ball kid at the Australian Open for the past three years and took on an extra special role in 2022.
Not only was she selected to be one of the 12 ball kids for Ashleigh Barty’s highly anticipated championship win against American Danielle Collins, and the all-Australian men’s doubles final – in which Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis defeated Matt Ebden and Max Purcell – but she also had the immense responsibility of carrying the Women’s Trophy alongside the legendary Jim Courier in this year’s opening ceremony.
“I was a bit nervous, but it all went well in the end,” she said of the experience.
“Last year’s event was strange without the crowds, but this year was wonderful.
“There was some tension in the beginning due to the Novak Djokovic saga, but once the matches were under way, my adrenaline immediately went through the roof.”
It was Molino’s first time in the final and she said it was made even more “exciting” due to the presence of Aussie players and an increasingly passionate crowd.
Molino has been playing tennis since she was just four years old, inheriting a passion for the sport from her older brothers Luke and Daniel.
After attending a few matches at Melbourne Park, she set her sights on becoming a ball kid at the age of 12.
“When I applied, there were around 3000 people lined up for the role,” she explained.
“After several physical tests, I was selected.
“But we get graded every time we go on court, so they pick the ones with the higher ratings.
“I was honoured not only to be able to participate this year but to have been selected to take part in the two finals.”
Molino’s parents, Anna and John, said they were “extremely proud” watching their daughter on the court and seeing her hard work and commitment pay off.
“It was quite an emotional moment actually,” Ann said, who had been watching with the rest of the family (keen Pakenham Tennis Club members) from outside the stadium, at Melbourne Park.
“We saw her on the big screen and I thought: ‘That’s my girl – just behind Ash’.
“It was quite emotional to see her there, just knowing how hard she’s worked over the years.”
While the ball kids aren’t allowed to talk to the players during matches, Molino said there were “a couple of times” where the athletes had spoken with them.
She also got to take a photo with Barty and the “Special Ks” (Kyrgios and Kokkinakis), as well as brushing shoulders with stars such as Greek semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas and Russian finalist Daniil Medvedev.
Although this year marked the end of Molino’s career as a ball kid – as candidates must be aged between 12 and 15 – she is eager to continue her tennis journey and will now look to embark on the path to becoming a supervisor, while also pursuing another great passion of hers: netball.
“I just found out that I was chosen for the Victoria U17 team for 2022,” she said.
“That was another exciting moment for me.”
