A delay occurred during a match at the Australian Open when a ball kid became sick on the court. Greek player Stefano Tsitsipas was competing against Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki in the tournament’s first round.
Mochizuki claimed the first set 6-4, but Tsitsipas rallied back to win the second set 6-3. As the third set began, a ball kid fell ill at the back of the court, prompting a temporary stoppage while medical staff attended to the youngster. This incident happened shortly after Naomi Osaka’s match against Antonia Ruzic was suspended at the Rod Laver Arena.
Commentators from TNT Sports initially puzzled over the reason for the match pause between Mochizuki and Tsitsipas. Play resumed after the vomit on the court was cleaned up, with Tsitsipas securing victory in the next two sets 6-2. He now moves on to face Czechia’s Tomas Machac in the second round. Unfortunately, this was not the first instance of a ball kid falling ill during the tournament.
In a separate incident earlier in the week, another ball kid collapsed during a match between Zeynep Sonmez of Turkiye and Russian player Ekaterina Alexandrova. Sonmez quickly assisted the girl, ensuring she received proper care before play resumed. Sonmez emphasized the importance of being a good human being over being a good tennis player in such situations.
TNT commentator Catherine Whitaker praised Sonmez for her quick response, highlighting her attentiveness and compassion in aiding the unwell ball kid.