During a first-round match at the Australian Open on Sunday, January 18, 2026, a ball girl collapsed on court, momentarily halting play and drawing immediate concern from players and officials. The incident occurred during the second set of a match between Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez and Russian 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. As the ball girl fell backward near the umpire's chair, Zeynep Sonmez displayed remarkable sportsmanship by promptly stopping the game and rushing to her assistance. Alexandrova also contributed by quickly gathering ice packs from courtside. Medical staff swiftly attended to the young girl, who was then taken off the court for further treatment and sent home as a precautionary measure. The incident, widely reported by various credible news outlets including Times of India, Yahoo Sports, People.com, and GiveMeSport, highlighted the challenging conditions at the tournament, with temperatures reaching approximately 28 degrees Celsius on the opening day. Sonmez's quick and compassionate reaction garnered widespread praise from fans and commentators alike, emphasizing that humanitarian acts supersede sporting competition. This event underscores the recurring issue of extreme heat affecting participants and support staff at the Australian Open.