A dramatic medical emergency halted play at the Australian Open on Sunday when a ball girl collapsed courtside during intense Melbourne heat. The incident occurred during a first-round match between Russian 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova and Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez.
With temperatures soaring to 28°C (82°F) on court, the young volunteer suddenly fell backward near the umpire’s chair during the second set. Both players immediately abandoned competition to provide emergency assistance. Alexandrova rushed to retrieve ice packs from a courtside refrigeration unit while Sonmez sprinted to the girl’s side to administer first aid.
The match was suspended for approximately ten minutes while medical staff attended to the collapsed volunteer, who received immediate treatment for heat-related distress. Tournament organizers confirmed the ball girl recovered fully after receiving medical attention.
When play resumed, world number 204 Sonmez completed a stunning upset victory against the favored Alexandrova with scores of 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. This marks the most significant win of the 23-year-old Turkish player’s career, who previously gained attention at Wimbledon by becoming Turkey’s first Open-era Grand Slam third-round participant.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about extreme heat conditions at the Australian Open, where temperatures frequently exceed 40°C (104°F) during tournament play. Meteorologists forecast temperatures reaching 36°C (97°F) throughout the coming week, prompting tournament officials to review heat safety protocols for players, staff, and volunteers.