Zeynep Sonmez of Turkiye and umpire Chase City assist a ball child who fainted, from the court docket throughout her first spherical match in opposition to Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia on the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday.
| Picture Credit score: AP
Play was halted throughout an Australian Open first-round match on Sunday (January 18, 2026) when a ball lady fainted in hovering temperatures, with gamers Zeynep Sonmez and Ekaterina Alexandrova speeding to assist her.
The incident occurred as Russian eleventh seed Alexandrova was serving within the second set with the lady falling onto her again whereas standing on the base of the umpire’s chair.
Rising Turkish star Sonmez sprinted over to assist whereas Alexandrova fetched ice luggage from a courtside fridge, earlier than the teenager obtained medical consideration.
Play was suspended for a number of minutes with temperatures reaching 28°C in Melbourne.
“I at all times say it’s extra vital to be a superb human being than a superb tennis participant,” Sonmez instructed BBC Sport.
“It was simply my intuition to assist her and I believe everybody would do the identical. I am pleased I received to assist.”
After they resumed, qualifier Sonmez surprised Alexandrova 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 for the most important win of her profession.
The 23-year-old made headlines at Wimbledon final yr, changing into the primary participant from Turkey to succeed in the third spherical at a Grand Slam within the Open period.
She’s going to play both American wildcard Elizabeth Mandlik or Hungary’s Anna Bondar subsequent.
Temperatures have been identified to soar previous 40°C through the Australian Open.
They’re forecast to succeed in a excessive of at the very least 36°C this week.
Revealed – January 19, 2026 03:03 am IST
