Volunteers, They're the Heart of the Atlanta Tennis Championships

On Monday thousands of tennis fans began descending on the Racquet Club of the South to watch the ATP Tour's professional tennis championships that are playing all week at the Peachtree Corners facility.

The USTA's week-long event is carefully orchestrated to ensure tennis fans who come to watch the tour's top tennis stars battle it out on the courts enjoy their experience.

And at the heart of its success are the volunteers. At this week's event are some 415 men, women and teens who volunteer their time at a number of jobs that help make the tournament run smoothly.

Amy Mason, who works under contract with the USTA overseeing the army of volunteers, coordinates the schedules of the various positions that include security, ushers, drivers, score keepers, ball boys and a myriad of other jobs.

"It has to be fun," said Mason who sees one of her main duties is ensuring the volunteers are happy working their shifts which often entails spending hours in the hot summer sun.

"They're the face of the tournament," she said. "I think that's my job, to keep the volunteers happy. These people work some times 12 hours a day. And they need to know they're appreciated."

Volunteering has been a 30-year habit for Camille Puckett who works in security this week. The Peachtree Corners resident and former tennis player has spent decades volunteering for ALTA and the USTA.

"I really enjoy the people," said Puckett as she checked badges to make sure people had the proper credentials before entering a private dining area.

As for handling grumpy people who may not want to abide by her instructions, she says "It's all in the way you tell them."

An interior designer, Puckett said she took the week off to volunteer. She's among many who willingly take vacation time to help out. And some even travel from other states just to have the chance.

"This year we've got volunteers who came from North Carolina, Tennessee and even Texas," said Mason.

But many are from the metro area including Patricia Wilson who will make her way from Smyrna four times this week to work in one of the concession stands in the tournament's Food Court.

"I was excited to get the chance to work at the tennis championship," said Wilson, a retired middle school teacher, who is working one of the cash registers this week.

Working on the court retrieving balls is one of the coveted jobs for junior tennis players said Mason.

These youngsters willingly volunteer to stand out in the hot sun chasing after rejected tennis balls and handing the player a towel in between points.

"All of the kids want to work on the weekends to be on TV," said Mason with a laugh.

Volunteers are key to the tennis tournament's success - or for any professional sports event for that matter.  The next time you attend one, remember to thank a volunteer - or maybe even sign up to be one.