Zeynep Sonmez Assists Fainting Ball Girl, Wins First-Round Match at Australian Open

During the 2026 Australian Open first-round match, Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez halted play to assist a ball girl who fainted amid high temperatures near the umpire's chair. Sonmez helped the girl to the sidelines where medical staff provided care. After a seven-minute delay, the match resumed, with Sonmez defeating 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. Sonmez became the first Turkish woman to reach the second round and emphasized the importance of humanity over competition in her response.