A delay occurred during a match at the Australian Open when a ball kid vomited on the court. Greek player Stefano Tsitsipas was up against Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki in the first round on Tuesday.
Mochizuki claimed the first set 6-4, but Tsitsipas came back strong to win the second set 6-3. As the third set began, a ball kid fell ill at the back of the court, causing a disturbance with a loud gagging sound heard by the crowd.
The game was promptly halted, and medical staff attended to the youngster while both Tsitsipas and Mochizuki returned to their seats. This incident occurred shortly after Naomi Osaka’s match against Antonia Ruzic was paused at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
Initially, TNT Sports’ commentators were puzzled by the sudden stoppage of the match between Mochizuki and Tsitsipas. The match resumed after the vomit was cleaned up, with Tsitsipas winning the following two sets 6-2, securing a second-round encounter with Czechia’s Tomas Machac. Unfortunately, this was not the first ball kid to fall ill during the tournament.
In a separate incident earlier in the week, another ball kid collapsed during a match between Zeynep Sonmez of Turkiye and Russian player Ekaterina Alexandrova. Sonmez quickly came to the aid of the girl, helping her recover and allowing play to resume after a brief delay.
Acknowledging Sonmez’s actions, TNT commentator Catherine Whitaker praised her quick response and care for the ball kid. The incident highlighted the importance of prioritizing human well-being over the game itself.