Zeynep Sonmez’s first-round win at the Australian Open on Sunday came with a moment that reminded everyone what sport looks like at its best — calm, human, and instinctive.
The world No.112 Turkish qualifier was in the middle of a tight match against 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova when play suddenly stopped in the second set.
A ball girl, standing near the chair umpire, appeared unsteady and then collapsed onto the court in the intense Melbourne heat.
Respect to Zeynep Sönmez who went to help this ball kid who fainted beside the court ❤️ pic.twitter.com/iHnX2TDaZ7
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) January 18, 2026
She managed to get back up briefly but stumbled again moments later. Sonmez didn’t wait for instructions. The 23-year-old walked straight over,
helped the ball girl to her feet, and guided her to a chair while medical staff stepped in. The crowd responded with warm applause before play resumed.
It was a simple gesture, but one that stood out in difficult conditions that have already tested players and officials at this year’s tournament.
Once the match restarted, Sonmez had to reset quickly. She lost the second set but stayed composed, eventually closing out a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win to move into the second round at Melbourne Park.
The result also carried some significance. Sonmez became the first Turkish woman in the professional era to reach the second round of the Australian Open — another step forward in what has been a steady rise over the past year.
Her run in Melbourne follows a strong 2025 season, where she reached the third round at Wimbledon, the best Grand Slam showing ever by a Turkish woman, and also made the second round of the US Open.
Against Alexandrova, Sonmez mixed solid baseline play with patience under pressure, but it was her reaction during the stoppage that drew as much attention as the tennis itself.
In tough heat and a tense match, she handled both situations calmly. She left the court with a win — and a moment that people will likely remember just as much as the scoreline.
(with Reuters inputs)
