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Tennis Star's Compassion: Halts Match for Ailing Ball Kid
18 Jan
Summary
- Qualifier Zeynep Sonmez paused her match to assist a struggling ball kid.
- The ball kid appeared to suffer a heat-related incident during the match.
- Sonmez's quick actions and concern were praised by fans and media.
Qualifier Zeynep Sonmez made headlines at the Australian Open not just for her upset victory, but for a remarkable display of sportsmanship. During her match against Ekaterina Alexandrova on Sunday, Sonmez immediately suspended play when a ball kid began to falter near the umpire's chair. The youngster appeared to be suffering from heat exhaustion in the sunny conditions.
Sonmez rushed to the ball kid's side, offering support and helping her to a shaded area. Medical personnel then attended to the child, who was later able to return home after receiving on-site treatment. The interruption lasted approximately seven minutes before play resumed.
Sonmez, ranked world No. 112, emphasized her belief that being a good human is more important than being a good tennis player. Her actions were widely celebrated on social media, with fans commending her character. This incident followed a similar event during the qualifying rounds where another ball kid collapsed due to the heat.
