Published: November 3, 2026 at 4:46 pm
A 13-year-old Samuel Doley from Assam has been selected as one of four Indian ball kids for the 2027 Australian Open in Melbourne and former Australian Open men’s doubles champion Rohan Bopanna is ecstatic about this.
“For me, success is not just about producing tennis champions, but about changing lives through tennis,” says Bopanna on the selection of Samuel Doley as a ball boy.
Samuel, who hails from Majauli in Assam, is a trainee at the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy (RBTA) in Bengaluru and a beneficiary of its Bhoomi programme, an initiative that seeks to transform the lives of children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds through sport and education.
His selection for the season’s first Grand Slam in January 2027 marks an important milestone for the programme and underlines Bopanna’s belief that the impact of tennis can extend far beyond winning matches and championships.
“Samuel’s selection for the Australian Open is an incredibly proud moment for all of us at RBTA. Coming from a small town in Assam to being part of a Grand Slam in Melbourne is a remarkable journey. This is exactly why we started the Bhoomi programme – to give children opportunities they may never have imagined possible, regardless of their background. For me, success is not just about producing tennis champions, but about changing lives through tennis. I hope Samuel’s journey inspires many more children to dream big and believe that anything is possible when given the right opportunity,” said Bopanna.
Samuel Doley: From Assam to the Australian Open
For Samuel, the opportunity to be part of one of the world’s most prestigious tennis tournaments represents a significant step in a journey that began far from the international tennis circuit.
Selected as one of four Indian ball kids for the 2027 Australian Open, the teenager will have the opportunity to experience the intensity, professionalism and global atmosphere of a Grand Slam tournament.
Samuel Doley is one of 37 children from Assam and Jammu who have been brought to Bengaluru under the Bhoomi programme, an initiative of the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Development Foundation (RBTDF)
The role demands exceptional concentration, agility, fitness, teamwork and composure, while offering young participants a unique perspective on the highest level of the sport.
The experience could also serve as inspiration for Samuel’s own tennis aspirations. Grand Slam champions Roger Federer and Richard Krajicek are among those who served as ball kids before going on to successful professional tennis careers.
Bhoomi programme: Breaking barriers through sport
Samuel is one of 37 children from Assam and Jammu who have been brought to Bengaluru under the Bhoomi programme, an initiative of the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Development Foundation (RBTDF).
Designed to identify and nurture sporting potential among children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, the programme conducts grassroots selection trials in underserved regions and provides selected children with an opportunity to pursue their tennis ambitions without compromising their education.
Hygiia Ventures partners with Bengaluru-based Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy
Through the support of RBTDF and the Kamal India Foundation, children enrolled in the programme receive residential accommodation, meals, formal schooling and professional tennis coaching, all free of cost.
The programme also focuses on fitness, nutrition, physical development, psychological support and regular assessments to ensure holistic development.
By providing a stable and structured environment, the initiative seeks to give children the time, resources and guidance required to realise their potential, both as athletes and as individuals.
A vision that goes beyond champions
With 37 children already part of the initiative, the Bhoomi programme has set a long-term target of supporting at least 100 children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
For Bopanna and the organisations behind the initiative, the goal is not simply to identify future professional tennis players, but to create a sustainable development pathway that combines sporting excellence with education, personal growth and life opportunities.
The programme reflects a broader commitment by RBTDF and RBTA to make tennis more accessible to children who might otherwise lack the financial resources or infrastructure to pursue the sport.
Through grassroots identification, long-term coaching and comprehensive residential support, the initiative aims to create opportunities that can positively influence the lives of children and their families.
Samuel’s selection for the Australian Open is an early example of that vision taking shape. As he prepares to make the journey from Bengaluru to Melbourne in January 2027, his story serves as a reminder that the true impact of sport is not always measured in titles and rankings, but also in the opportunities it creates and the lives it can change.
