Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sonmez has earned widespread praise for her swift response after a ball girl collapsed during her Australian Open first-round encounter with Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The incident unfolded at Melbourne Park when the young court attendant fainted beside the umpire's chair whilst Alexandrova was serving during the second set.
Despite the competitive pressure of a Grand Slam match, the world number 112 immediately abandoned play to rush to the stricken girl's assistance.
Sonmez helped guide the visibly disoriented youngster towards the sidelines, ensuring she could be attended to by medical personnel waiting courtside.
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The sweltering conditions at Melbourne Park played a significant role in the concerning episode, with temperatures reaching 28 degrees Celsius on the tournament's opening day.
After collapsing onto her back near the official's position, the ball girl managed to regain her footing before Sonmez intervened.
The Turkish player spotted the alarming situation unfolding and wasted no time in providing assistance, escorting the clearly dazed youngster away from the playing area.
A ball girl fainted during the Zeynep Sonmez and Ekaterina Alexandrova match at the Australian Open.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 18, 2026
Zeynep immediately went over to help her & walked her off the court.
Compassion. ❤️
pic.twitter.com/FzNQalCyJa
Medical staff stationed at the venue then took over, carefully guiding the girl off court to receive proper attention.
Tennis supporters across the globe took to social media platform X to commend Sonmez for her rapid and caring reaction to the emergency.
"Class act from Sonmez," wrote one user, whilst another posted: "Big respect to her."
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Five facts for tennis fans | GETTY/PAFurther praise highlighted the humanitarian nature of her response, with one fan commenting: "It is very nice and rare to behave humanely without losing your humanity. Zeynep behaved as an athlete should."
Others described the moment as "HUMANITY at its finest" and labelled her intervention a "classy act."
The outpouring of admiration reflected widespread appreciation for the player prioritising the youngster's welfare above the match.
The medical emergency resulted in a six-minute stoppage to proceedings at Melbourne Park.
Zeynep Sonmez has been hailed for how she treated the ball girl at the Australian Open
|GETTY
Fortunately, the ball girl is reported to have received further treatment at the venue before being allowed to return home.
Once play resumed, Sonmez maintained her composure to secure an impressive upset victory against the 11th seed.
The Turkish player claimed the opening set 7-5 before Alexandrova fought back to level the contest by taking the second 6-4.
However, Sonmez proved too strong in the decider, winning 6-4 to progress to the second round of the Grand Slam tournament.