In a moment that transcended sport, Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sonmez became an instant hero at the Australian Open, instinctively rushing to the aid of a collapsing ball girl before securing an emotional career-best victory on Sunday.
An Instinctive Act of Kindness on Court
The dramatic incident unfolded during Sonmez's first-round match against world No.11 Ekaterina Alexandrova. Late in the second set, the world No.112 noticed the young ball girl was unwell. The girl fell to the floor but quickly stood up, prompting Sonmez to immediately abandon the match and rush to her side. The Turkish athlete helped carry the distressed youngster off the court and into the shade.
Concerns escalated when the girl fainted in Sonmez's arms. Luckily, the quick-thinking player caught her, preventing a dangerous second fall to the ground. "She was really struggling. She said she was fine but it was really obvious she was not fine," Sonmez later told the BBC. "So I went to grab her and said 'sit down and drink something, you're not fine'. As we were walking she fainted so luckily I grabbed her. She was really shaking."
After receiving medical treatment, the girl regained her composure and walked off the court with staff. Sonmez, however, downplayed her swift actions. "I always say it is more important to be a good human being than a good tennis player," she stated. "It was just my instinct to help her and I think everyone would do the same. I'm happy I got to help."
A Stunning Comeback Victory
With the wellbeing of the ball girl assured, Sonmez refocused on her match, though her tournament future looked bleak. She then produced a remarkable turnaround. After dropping serve in the deciding set, the 23-year-old fought back to claim a stunning 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 victory, marking her best-ever win at a Grand Slam.
The emotional triumph was celebrated with a Turkish flag from the stands, but Sonmez's thoughts remained with the ball girl. "If I see the ball girl tomorrow or later in the tournament I'd love to speak to her," she expressed, hopeful for a catch-up during her extended stay in Melbourne.
Shake-up in the Women's Draw
Sonmez's win was part of a significant upheaval in her section of the draw. Her opponent, Alexandrova, was shockingly defeated, and 20th seed Marta Kostyuk was forced to retire due to a devastating ankle injury. The Ukrainian, a 2024 quarter-finalist, remarkably played on after rolling her ankle late in her match against France's Elsa Jacquemot, only later discovering she had torn a ligament.
"I won't be able to continue at the Australian Open," a devastated Kostyuk announced, confirming her withdrawal from doubles. "The Australian Open has always been one of my favorite tournaments, so this isn't how I imagined my run ending. But that's part of the sport."
This series of results has opened a surprising path in the tournament. Sonmez will now face the winner of the match between American wildcard Elizabeth Mandlik and Hungary's Anna Bondar. The victor of that second-round clash could meet either Jacquemot or former top-20 player Yulia Putintseva in the third round, with a potential fourth-round encounter against No.7 seed Jasmine Paolini looming.
For now, the spotlight remains firmly on Zeynep Sonmez, not just for her tennis, but for the profound humanity she displayed on one of the sport's biggest stages.
