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Zeynep Sönmez Aids Collapsed Ball Girl at Australian Open and Advances to Second Round

The scare underscored the heat risks facing ball kids in Melbourne.

Overview

  • A ball girl collapsed beside the umpire’s chair during the first-round match between Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zeynep Sönmez.
  • Sönmez halted play, supported the girl into shade, and on-court staff provided several minutes of assistance.
  • The ball kid was taken for medical evaluation and was later allowed to go home, with no further official update reported.
  • Conditions were reported around 28–35°C on the 1573 Arena, which is considered one of the hottest courts at Melbourne Park.
  • After play resumed, Sönmez won 7–5, 4–6, 6–4 and is set to face Anna Bondár or Elizabeth Mandlik in the second round.