Turkish Tennis Star Stops Match to Help Fainting Ball Girl

When a ball girl suddenly wobbled and collapsed beside the umpire's chair during Sunday's Australian Open match, Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez didn't hesitate for a second.

The 23-year-old stopped play mid-rally against 11th-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova and sprinted across the court. As the crowd erupted in applause, Sonmez gently lifted the girl's arm over her shoulder and guided her to a seat where medical staff could help.

The girl had picked herself up after the first fall but stumbled again moments later in Melbourne's punishing heat. That's when Sonmez, locked in a tight second set battle, made it clear that some things matter more than tennis.

After losing that set, the world number 112 refocused and pulled off a stunning 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 comeback victory. When Alexandrova's final shot hit the net, Sonmez held her head in disbelief before waving to supporters in the stands at 1573 Arena.

The win made history. Sonmez became the first woman from Turkey to reach the second round of the Australian Open, adding to her breakthrough 2025 season that included a third-round Wimbledon appearance.

She walked off court wrapped in the Turkish flag while fans waved matching red and white banners throughout the arena. The crowd had firmly adopted her as their favorite, cheering louder with each point of her comeback.

Sunny's Take

Sonmez's split-second decision revealed something she'd already put into words during a 2024 interview. When asked what she'd do if she wasn't playing tennis, she said she'd be helping people, especially kids and women, to make the world better despite wars and hardship.

On Sunday, the world got to see those values in action. Sonmez proved you can be fiercely competitive and deeply compassionate at the same time, stopping her biggest career match to make sure a young girl got the help she needed.

The victory is sweeter because it reflects who Sonmez is off the court, not just her skill on it.