Zeynep Sönmez Supports Ballkid in Upset Victory Over Ekaterina Alexandrova
Zeynep Sönmez demonstrated sportsmanship during her first-round match at the Australian Open. She assisted a ballkid who became unwell, halting the match while showing compassion and concern.
Zeynep Sönmez’s Upset Victory Over Ekaterina Alexandrova
On Sunday, the 23-year-old Turkish qualifier, Zeynep Sönmez, achieved a remarkable upset by defeating the 11th-ranked Ekaterina Alexandrova. This match took place at the 1573 Arena in Melbourne, Australia.
Emergency During the Match
In the ninth game of the second set, the game was interrupted when a ballkid stumbled near the umpire’s chair. The sunny conditions, with a temperature of approximately 29°C (84°F), likely contributed to the incident. Sönmez, ranked No. 112 in the world, promptly raised her hand to pause the match.
- Sönmez approached the ballkid, helping her to safety.
- She embraced the ballkid and guided her to a shaded area.
- Tournament officials and medical staff quickly attended to the ballkid.
After a delay of about seven minutes, the match resumed once the situation was under control. Sönmez broke serve during the game but lost the second set. She ultimately rallied to win the match with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
Sönmez’s Journey at the Australian Open
This victory marks Sönmez’s first advancement to the second round at the Australian Open. Previously, her best performance in Grand Slam tournaments was reaching the third round at Wimbledon the year before.
The tournament reported that the ballkid quickly recovered from the incident but did not return to the match. Sönmez’s actions during this event underscore the importance of sportsmanship and humanity in competitive sports.
