More than sport! Turkish tennis player Sönmez stops match to help girl who fainted
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sönmez (WTA No. 112) became one of the main protagonists at the start of the 2026 Australian Open. In the first round, she pulled off a stunning victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova — 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. But it wasn’t just the result that made this match unforgettable.
Details: During the match, a touching moment unfolded: a ball girl fainted right on the court. The incident happened in the second set during Alexandrova’s serve. Sönmez immediately stopped play and was the first to rush over, supporting the girl and escorting her to the side of the court where medical staff provided care in the shade.
Play resumed after a six-minute pause. Sönmez managed to regain her focus and close out the match, pulling off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets at the Australian Open start.
In the next round, the Turkish athlete will face Hungarian player Anna Bondár. The match is scheduled for the night of January 21 at 01:00 Central European Time.
Reminder: Legendary tennis player Novak Djokovic announced his departure from the ATP.
