NEW YORK — It was tense between courts eight and nine at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center one early July morning.

Sixteen teenagers sat on the bleachers essentially in silence. A few were accompanied by parents, some kept to themselves. Nerves bubbled. A ticket to the U.S. Open and a chance to be on national TV was on the line.

U.S. Open ballperson tryouts are serious stuff. And as I found out, a real pain in the back.

Ballperson tryouts appeared easy. Go on the court, catch a few balls, get a good workout, no big deal. Isn’t it something kids do for fun in the summer? Doesn’t the tournament just grab a few out of tennis practice to fetch balls?

I learned quickly that it’s not that simple when I was sent to Queens for a firsthand experience inside the tryout.

Twenty-something ballperson Joe Laskowski, a nine-year U.S. Open veteran, tried making conversation with the kids. He didn’t have much luck.

Laskowski to a kid wearing a Buckeyes T-shirt: “Do you want to go to Ohio State?”

Kid: “No.”

Laskowski: “Do you know someone who goes there?”

Kid: “No.”

Laskowski: “What grade are you in?”

Kid: “Junior.”

One-word answers were all his nerves would allow him to mutter.

We were trying out for three ballperson positions: net, back and swing.

For net, candidates must be quick, as they run into the middle of the court, scoop the ball and immediately run back to either side of the net. For back, candidates must have a strong arm, as they throw the ball across the court in order to keep the speed of play fast. Swing does both net and back and is most valuable.

Starting at the net, I stood tall, legs shoulder width apart, hands behind my back. Laskowski hit the ball against the net, and I sprinted to pick it up with both hands. Once back in position, I threw the ball with one bounce to the back ballperson.

One bounce. They drilled that one hard.

Next, Laskowski rolled the ball to the corner of the court. I had to sprint to it, scoop it up with both hands, sprint to the back ballperson, stand beside him, hand it off, then sprint back to my original spot.

You have to sprint all the time.

All exercises were highly choreographed and involved variations of sprinting, throwing and catching.

I felt good until the back session. The U.S. Open is the only Grand Slam that throws the ball to the other side of the court during play. All the others roll it. Throwing keeps the game fast and the ball from accumulating fuzz, which weighs it down.

Starting behind the baseline, I had to throw the ball across the court to the other back ballperson. Instructions were to throw it over the umpire on one bounce. One of my five attempts hit a USA TODAY Sports photographer in the head. The others were way off.

Sorry, I never played softball.

After tryouts, I grabbed a Gatorade and sat down with Laskowski.

Me: “So, how’d I do? Did I make it?”

Laskowski: “I would say for the net, you did pretty well. You’re pretty fast for the girls. Usually boys in general are quick. You’re above average for the girls.”

Score!

He did say I “might not have throwing capabilities for full court,” but I’m not offended.

In the end, 70 survived from the 400 who tried out.

I was among the 330.

My back hurt for days, and my ego was bruised. Next year, right?