Alessandra Bonomi became the first ball kid with Down syndrome who was not assisted in an ATP Tour match during the Barcelona Open on Friday.
Bonomi performed her duties in the men’s doubles quarterfinals at Andres Gimeno Court, cheering from the audience and encouraging them on social media after the tournament highlighted her achievements.
“For us, there’s a lot of work behind it. It was an idea that was a dream come true when we proposed it, and making it a reality is very exciting for everyone,” Barcelona’s Open Ball Kids chief Mark Vissierdi said on the tournament’s website.
Down syndrome can cause developmental delays and intellectual disability, increasing the risk of some medical problems in individuals with a condition.
“It shows the world that anyone, even with a disability, can achieve anything they want in life based on their self-improvement and effort,” Visiedo said.