Overview
- The ball kid collapsed near the chair during the second set of Ekaterina Alexandrova versus Zeynep Sonmez on opening day at Melbourne Park.
- Sonmez guided the child to the shade for care and play resumed after about six minutes, according to on-site reports.
- EssentiallySports reported that Alexandrova fetched ice as officials and medical staff attended.
- Sonmez won 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 to reach round two, and Reuters notes she is the first Turkish woman to advance to the Australian Open second round.
- Coverage cites heat concerns and the tournament’s Extreme Heat Policy, and reports differ on the ball kid’s gender with no official health update beyond the on-court treatment.