If there’s one thing guaranteed at the US Open, it’s unmatched entertainment. From booming winners to sneaky drop shots, roaring applause of the crowd, fiery disputes, and even the occasional racquet smash, tennis never fails to amuse. A perfect example came in today’s clash between Billy Harris and Felix Auger-Aliassime, when a ball kid hilariously lost a shoe mid-game.

Sure, you must be thinking that the bigger picture of this headline game should be Auger-Aliassime’s emphatic triumph over Harris in the 2025 US Open first round on Tuesday. A milestone achievement for the Canadian in the first round, who entered the tournament after losing the opening round of Roland Garros, the second round at Wimbledon, and the Australian Open. Yet, it’s moments like these that jolt up the atmosphere surrounding the game and shouldn’t go unnoticed.

As you all know, ball kids are a common sight in every sport, and tennis is no exception. Interestingly, during the second set, with Auger-Aliassime leading 5-6, he fired a powerful serve that clipped the net. The ball kid stationed on the right side reacted instantly as expected and sprinted to the middle of the court to retrieve the ball. But just as he grabbed it and began running toward the left side, his shoe came off.

Before Auger-Aliassime could even turn to face Harris for the next serve, the ball kid quickly doubled back and snatched his shoe right out of his own hand—a moment both players had already noticed, seeing the boy’s antics. Witnessing the scene, the entire stadium burst into laughter and erupted with cheers.

Even the commentators were in stitches, with one joking, “Going so fast that the shoe came off.” In the background, the announcer’s voice could be heard thanking the young ball kid, while the crowd roared with laughter and applause. As the camera panned to the boy, capturing his wide smile, the commentator added, “That’s awesome. Still not back on but…” highlighting how he still hadn’t managed to put his shoe on properly—a task he quickly rushed to finish.

Either way, it was quite a hilarious and light-hearted moment that surely would have taken the tension off between both players for a moment. At least it helped Felix Auger-Aliassime, who was able to secure a gritty 6-4, 7-6(8), 6-4 win over Billy Harris. Every set proved to be a tense battle for the Canadian, with the pressure peaking during the second-set tiebreak. The victory marked his first win at Flushing Meadows since 2022.

“What an electric atmosphere,” Auger-Aliassime told the fans after the match. “A great opening round win for me, and as a player, this is what you work for,” as per the US Open. With this victory, the 25-year-old moves to the second round, where he’ll be facing Roman Safiullin. Then again, we bet more than this game; it’s rather the ball boy incident that remains the highlight. Speaking of which, this isn’t the first time such moments have transpired before at this very stage.

The US Open is more than just about tennis!

The US Open is such a special stage that even the ball boys sometimes turn out some respected stars. Consider the 2023 US Open when Frances Tiafoe was taking on Carlos Alcaraz at Louis Armstrong Stadium, with Alcaraz and Yatra edging out the tiebreak set, 15-13. During the game, the NBA’s Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler took on an unexpected role at the US Open.

Also known to fans as “Jimmy Buckets,” he literally joined the ball crew during the Stars of the Open event. Dressed in the signature Ralph Lauren uniform, Butler teamed up with Grammy-nominated singer Sebastián Yatra. Well, quite a shot, Jimmy, considering how big you would look in front of these small volunteer kids.

Heck, the US Open has its share of non-human guests, too. In a women’s doubles second-round match featuring Greet Minnen and Yanina Wickmayer against Vera Zvonareva and Laura Siegemund, a squirrel made an unexpected appearance on Court 5. Fortunately, the furry intruder quickly scampered to safety, allowing play to continue.

Just as they say, more than just a game!