Australian Open conflict suspended as ball child suffers medical emergency on court docket
An Australian Open clash was suspended after a ball kid suddenly fell ill during Stefano Tsitsipas’s clash with Shintaro Mochizuki
The ball kid fell ill on the court(Image: )
An Australian Open clash was suspended after a ball kid suffered a medical emergency on court during Stefano Tsitsipas and Shintaro Mochizuki’s clash.
The Greek star had lost the opening set 6-4, but bounced back to win the second set 6-3. However, the game was paused near the start of the third set when the ball kid fell ill.
Both Tsitsipas and Japanese rival Mochizuki returned to their benches while medical staff rushed over to treat the ball kid, after it emerged they had thrown up near the back of the court. There was initial confusion from the TNT Sports commentary team.
They were heard saying on comms: “We’re delayed here, we’ll stop and wait for it to get sorted. Goodness me, everything is going on. Something in the crowd, is it?”
Broadcasters would then cut away from the coverage while the ball kid received some treatment. There was an eight-minute delay before action resumed.
Tsitsipas went onto win the match, taking the next two sets 6-2.
It’s not the first time a ball kid has got into trouble at this year’s event, and one fainted during during Zeynep Sonmez’s win over Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Alexandrova was serving late in the second set against Sonmez when she noticed something was not right with the ball kid standing next to the umpire’s chair.
Sonmez, after spotting the girl struggling to stand, rushed over to help. Alexandrova also raced over, with the girl fainting near the umpire’s chair.
“Ball kid is up on their feet and they’re being helped off court. They’re in safe hands,” the commentator said.
She was given a standing ovation as she left the court.
