A delay occurred during a match at the Australian Open when a ball kid vomited on the court. Greek player Stefano Tsitsipas was playing against Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki in the tournament’s first round. Mochizuki won the first set 6-4, but Tsitsipas came back to win the second set 6-3. As the third set began, a ball kid fell ill near the back of the court, leading to a temporary stop in play for medical attention.
The interruption puzzled TNT Sports’ commentators, who briefly paused the match until the situation was resolved. After cleaning up the court, play resumed, with Tsitsipas winning the following sets 6-2 and advancing to face Czech player Tomas Machac in the second round. Unfortunately, this incident was not the only one involving a ball kid falling ill at this year’s Australian Open.
In a separate match earlier in the week, another ball kid collapsed during a game between Zeynep Sonmez of Turkiye and Russian player Ekaterina Alexandrova. Sonmez quickly assisted the girl, ensuring she received the necessary care before play resumed. Sonmez emphasized the importance of helping others in such situations, stating that being a good human being is more significant than being a good tennis player.
Commentators praised Sonmez for her quick and compassionate response to the situation, highlighting her attentiveness and care for the well-being of the ball kid.