Tennis player Zeynep Sonmez has been celebrated as a hero for her swift actions after a ball girl fainted during her first-round match at the 2026 Australian Open.
A Scary Collapse on Court
The alarming incident occurred on a scorching Sunday in Melbourne, with temperatures reaching 28°C. As Sonmez's opponent, Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia, served for the second set, a ball girl positioned near the umpire's chair was seen stumbling. She briefly recovered before collapsing forcefully onto her back, sparking immediate concern among viewers on social media.
While the umpire seemed unaware of the drama unfolding below, Sonmez reacted instantly. She raised her hand to stop Alexandrova and halt play, then rushed to the girl's side.
Sonmez's Quick-Thinking Intervention
The Turkish qualifier, ranked 112th in the world, put an arm around the stricken girl to prevent further injury. Alongside two tournament officials, she carefully helped the ball girl from the court to a nearby seat. Play eventually resumed after a six-minute delay.
In comments to BBC Sport, Sonmez described the moment. 'She was really struggling. She said she was fine but it was really obvious she was not fine,' she said. 'So I went to grab her and said "sit down and drink something, you're not fine". As we were walking she fainted so luckily I grabbed her. She was really shaking.'
Tennis Australia confirmed the girl received on-site medical attention before being sent home. Sonmez, who went on to secure a surprise 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 victory, added that she hoped to speak to the girl later in the tournament.
Heat Policy Under Scrutiny
The event has brought attention back to the tournament's heat policies. In 2019, the Australian Open updated its extreme heat policy, introducing a Heat Stress Scale (HSS) which ranges from one to five. The scale registered a reading of 2.8 at the time of the incident, where the advice is to increase hydration.
Sonmez's compassionate act aligns with sentiments she expressed in a 2024 interview, where she stated that if she weren't a tennis professional, she would likely be 'helping people' in a world affected by conflict and hardship.
