A dramatic medical incident halted play on the opening day of the Australian Open in Melbourne, when a ball kid collapsed courtside, prompting an immediate and compassionate response from the players on court.
Drama on 1573 Arena
The incident occurred during the first-round women's singles match between 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova and Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez. Alexandrova was attempting to stage a comeback, having broken serve twice to lead 5-3 in the second set and serving to level the match. At that crucial moment, the ball kid went down beside the court at the 1573 Arena.
Both players instantly rushed to the scene, joined swiftly by court attendants. The chair umpire suspended play and called for medical assistance, informing spectators of the delay. "The umpire is making an official announcement that the match will sort of be paused while help is on the way," commentator Catherine Whitaker reported, emphasising that the welfare of the young official was paramount.
Players Praised for Human Response
Zeynep Sonmez received particular acclaim from fans for her reaction. On social media platform X, one supporter hailed it as a "class act from Sonmez," while another stated, "It is very nice and rare to behave humanously without losing your humanity. Zeynep behaved as an athlete should." The timing was especially challenging for Alexandrova, who was at deuce on her own serve when the stoppage occurred.
Medical staff arrived promptly, and the ball kid was helped to their feet and escorted off the court to warm applause from the concerned crowd. The Australian Open is no stranger to challenging conditions, with Melbourne experiencing temperatures of around 28 degrees Celsius on the day, which also affected other players in the draw.
Match Resumes with Dramatic Conclusion
The lengthy interruption appeared to disrupt Alexandrova's momentum. When play resumed, she was broken, sending Sonmez's vocal Turkish supporters into raptures. However, the Russian broke straight back to claim the second set 6-4 and force a decider.
Alexandrova carried that momentum into the third set, securing an early break. Yet Sonmez, feeding off the energy of her fans, staged a remarkable fightback. The qualifier held her nerve to clinch a stunning 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 victory, one of the early upsets of the tournament. Alexandrova will now turn her attention to the women's doubles, where she is partnering with legend Venus Williams.
