Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sonmez has advanced to the third round of the Australian Open, marking a historical first for a Turkish woman in the Open era at the tournament. Her progress included a notable moment in her first-round match where she paused play to assist a ball kid who became unwell on court due to heat.
First-Round Victory and On-Court Assistance
In her first-round match against No. 11 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, Zeynep Sonmez, ranked No. 112, secured a victory with a final score of 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. This win represented the first time a Turkish woman has won a main draw match at the Australian Open in the Open era, advancing her to the second round.
During the ninth game of the second set of this match, played at 1573 Arena, a ball kid positioned near the chair umpire became unsteady, lost balance, and stumbled backward. The incident occurred under sunny conditions with temperatures around 29 Celsius (84 Fahrenheit), attributed to heat and high surface intensity.
Sonmez immediately halted play upon observing the ball kid's condition. She approached the courtside, placed an arm around the ball kid's waist, and assisted in guiding her to a seated position in a shaded area. Tournament officials and medical staff subsequently took over to assess and treat the ball kid. Play was delayed for approximately seven minutes. Following treatment, tournament organizers confirmed the ball kid recovered quickly and returned home, not continuing participation in the match. Sonmez later expressed an interest in speaking with the ball kid again during the tournament.
Second-Round Match and Historic Progress
Sonmez, 23, proceeded to win her second-round match against Hungarian Anna Bondár with a score of 6-2, 6-4. This victory secured her a spot in the third round, marking the deepest run for a Turkish woman at the Australian Open in the Open era.
During her match against Bondár, Sonmez received vocal support from the Turkish diaspora in Victoria, with Turkish national flags visible in the stands. Sonmez commented that the crowd's volume initially affected her concentration but later stated she appreciated the support, particularly during crucial points.
Tournament Outlook and Career Milestones
Zeynep Sonmez is scheduled to face Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva in the third round. Her previous best Grand Slam performances include reaching the third round at Wimbledon in the previous year and the second round of the U.S. Open in 2023. She acknowledged the support from Türkiye, noting that many people watched her matches despite the time difference.