MELBOURNE, Australia — In a remarkable display of sportsmanship that transcended competition, Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sönmez interrupted her first-round match at the Australian Open to assist a distressed ballkid during Sunday’s play. The incident occurred during Sönmez’s stunning upset victory against 11th-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova at the 1573 Arena.
During the ninth game of the second set, with temperatures reaching approximately 29°C (84°F) and court surface conditions considerably hotter, a young ball attendant began visibly struggling near the umpire’s chair. The individual initially lost balance, stumbled backward, then stood only to wobble again under the intense Melbourne sun.
Demonstrating exceptional presence of mind, Sönmez immediately signaled to suspend play despite being in position to receive serve. The 23-year-old qualifier rushed to the courtside, providing physical support by placing her arm around the ballkid’s waist and guiding them toward shaded areas. When tournament officials arrived, Sönmez personally assisted in lifting the individual into a chair for safety.
Medical personnel promptly assumed care for what appeared to be a heat-related incident, evaluating and treating the ballkid courtside. After approximately seven minutes—once the affected individual and medical team had exited the arena—competition resumed between Sönmez and Alexandrova.
The tournament administration later confirmed the ballkid had recovered quickly following the incident, though they did not participate further in the match.
Sönmez, currently ranked 112th globally, ultimately secured her victory with scores of 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, marking her first advancement to the second round at the Australian Open. Her previous best Grand Slam performance was reaching the third round at Wimbledon in 2023.