A ball kid’s illness caused a delay in a match at the Australian Open between Greek player Stefano Tsitsipas and Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki. Mochizuki won the first set 6-4, but Tsitsipas made a comeback in the second set with a 6-3 victory. However, the start of the third set was interrupted when a ball kid fell ill near the court’s back, leading to a pause in play for medical assistance.
The match commentators from TNT Sports were initially puzzled by the sudden halt in the game. The situation unfolded shortly after another match involving Naomi Osaka was suspended at the Rod Laver Arena. Play resumed after a brief delay once the court was cleaned up, and Tsitsipas went on to win the next two sets 6-2, securing a spot in the second round against Czechia’s Tomas Machac.
Unfortunately, this incident was not an isolated one, as earlier in the week, a ball kid fainted during a matchup between Zeynep Sonmez of Turkiye and Russian player Ekaterina Alexandrova. Sonmez quickly aided the girl, getting her back on her feet and ensuring she received proper care before play resumed.
Sonmez’s compassionate actions were praised by TNT commentator Catherine Whitaker, highlighting the importance of being a caring individual in such situations. These incidents underscore the physical demands and challenges faced by ball kids at the Australian Open.