Queen of the court SHELAGH'S AN ACE VOLUNTEER!

It's love all for the tennis fan, who'll be serving up more hugs at the ASB Classic

- Fleur Guthrie

For the past 10 summers, Shelagh Coop has donned a black cap, slipped an ID lanyard around her neck and kept her eye on the ball to become a “pseudo-grandma” to world-class tennis stars.

She's the ASB Classic tournament's most senior volunteer - just don't ask her age - who isn't necessarily there for the action on centre court in Auckland.

Her ethos is simple: she just wants to be useful and make people smile.

“I'm fully aware that I'm an older woman and people might think, ‘What is she doing here?’” tells Shelagh.

“But it isn't the years in your life that matter – it's your attitude towards life. I don't go for the tennis prowess. I go for the atmosphere and camaraderie – that's the joy for me.

“Everyone's so interested to be there and I quite enjoy looking at what people are wearing, particularly the young women. And it's easy for me to catch a bus at the top of my road, which drops me off near the Manuka Doctor Arena.”

Eloquent and witty, British-born Shelagh does everything from greeting spectators and making sure they're on the right court to working in the merchandise tent.

“Last year, I was based on the staircase, where the players came down from the lounge to practise, so I talked to Caroline Wozniacki, which was lovely. (The Danish superstar has played seven times in Auckland.)

“And there were two very nice young male players from Moldova, who, every time they saw me, would give me a big hug. I think I'm a pseudo-grandma for some of them.

“I played tennis at school, but I was crummy at it – my hand and eye didn't coordinate. So in my next life, I want to come back as a tennis player!”