Compassion on the Court
In a remarkable display of compassion, Zeynep Sönmez paused her match at the Australian Open on Sunday to help an in-distress ballkid who fell during the first round clash against the 11th seed, Ekaterina Alexandrova. The incident occurred amidst sun-soaked conditions at the 1573 Arena, as Sönmez prepared to serve during the ninth game of the second set.
Sportsmanship in Action
As the young ballkid stumbled and tumbled backward near the umpire’s chair, Sönmez wasted no time. She signaled for a halt to the game, demonstrating sportsmanship not often seen on such a competitive stage. The Turkish player quickly moved to the sidelines, providing her support to the ballkid until tournament officials and medical staff arrived to assess the situation. In doing so, Sönmez even lifted the ballkid into a nearby chair, highlighting her concern and readiness to assist.
Match Resumes
The match was briefly interrupted for approximately seven minutes while the ballkid received necessary care in a shaded area. Following the delay, play resumed, with Sönmez effectively breaking serve during the same game in which the disruption occurred, though she ultimately dropped the set. Nevertheless, she fought back to secure a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 victory, marking her advancement to round two of the tournament for the first time in her career.
A Milestone Achievement
Prior to this achievement, Sönmez’s most notable performance in Grand Slam events was reaching the third round at Wimbledon last year.
