Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey and umpire Chase Urban help a ball kid who fainted, from the court during her first round match against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. AP
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Firstpost18-01-2026, 16:57

Australian Open: Ball Girl Faints, Players Rush to Help; Sonmez Wins Hearts and Match

  • A ball girl fainted during a first-round women's singles match at the Australian Open 2026 due to high temperatures in Melbourne.
  • Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez and Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova immediately rushed to the girl's aid, providing support and ice bags.
  • Sonmez noticed the girl's discomfort, stopped play, and helped escort her to the sidelines, where she completely fainted.
  • The incident highlighted player sportsmanship and concern for well-being on court.
  • After the match resumed, Sonmez defeated Alexandrova 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, registering a significant career win.

Why It Matters: Players showed great sportsmanship by helping a fainted ball girl at the Australian Open amid high temperatures.

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