On the first day of the Australian Open, a ball kid collapsed, causing a temporary pause in the match between Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zeynep Sonmez. The incident happened as Alexandrova was making a comeback, having been trailing in the match. Both players and court attendants rushed to the aid of the ball kid, leading to a suspension of play to allow medical assistance to arrive.
Commentator Catherine Whitaker noted the official announcement of the pause in the match for the ball kid’s well-being. Sonmez received praise for her compassionate response to the situation from fans and spectators inside the arena.
Despite the disruption, Alexandrova managed to regroup and force a deciding third set after winning the second set. However, Sonmez displayed composure and skill to secure a remarkable 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 victory in front of her supporters. The match took place under warm conditions in Melbourne, with Canadian player Liam Draxl also requiring medical attention during his singles match due to the challenging weather conditions.