MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Zeynep Sönmez, a 23-year-old Turkish qualifier, made headlines during her first-round match at the Australian Open on Sunday, January 18, 2026, by rushing to assist an ailing ballkid. This incident occurred during her match against the No. 11 seed, Ekaterina Alexandrova.
In the ninth game of the second set, while Sönmez was receiving serve, a ballkid suddenly lost her balance and stumbled near the umpire's chair at the 1573 Arena. Despite quickly standing up, the young ballkid began to wobble again, prompting Sönmez to take immediate action. She raised her hand to pause play and made her way to the courtside to support the distressed ballkid, placing an arm around her waist to guide her toward a shaded area.
Tournament officials acted swiftly to assist, but Sönmez took the initiative to lift the ballkid into a chair situated near the side of the arena, ensuring she was comfortable until medical staff arrived to evaluate her condition. The situation seemed to be heat-related, given that the temperature hovered around 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit) with intense heat radiating from the exposed hard court surface.
Both players and officials patiently awaited the departure of the ballkid and the medical staff from the arena. After a brief interruption lasting approximately seven minutes, Sönmez and Alexandrova resumed the match. Following the break, Sönmez managed to break serve during that game, although she ultimately lost the second set. Displaying resilience, she rebounded to take the match in a tightly contested three sets, winning 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. This victory marked her advancement to the second round of the Australian Open for the first time in her career.
Before this tournament, Sönmez's most notable performance in a Grand Slam event was reaching the third round at Wimbledon the previous year. The Australian Open match not only highlighted her skills on the court but also showcased her character and sportsmanship off it.
The tournament organizers later confirmed that the ballkid quickly recovered from the incident but did not return to participate for the remainder of the match. This incident exemplified the challenges athletes face in extreme weather conditions and the importance of prioritizing health and safety in competitive sports.
Overall, Sönmez's actions during the match resonated with spectators and participants alike, demonstrating a commendable sense of empathy and responsibility in the heat of competition. As she prepares for her upcoming matches, her on-court performance and off-court kindness will undoubtedly be remembered by fans and fellow athletes.
