A delay occurred during a match at the Australian Open when a ball kid vomited on the court, disrupting the game between Greek player Stefano Tsitsipas and Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki. Mochizuki initially took the lead by winning the opening set 6-4, but Tsitsipas fought back to claim the second set 6-3. The start of the third set was interrupted as a ball kid fell ill near the back of the court, prompting a pause in play for medical attention.
The match was temporarily stopped for the youngster’s treatment, with both players returning to their benches. This incident followed a recent suspension of Naomi Osaka’s game against Antonia Ruzic at the Rod Laver Arena. Confusion arose among TNT Sports’ commentators regarding the sudden halt of the Tsitsipas versus Mochizuki match.
After the court was cleaned, play resumed, with Tsitsipas winning the next two sets 6-2, securing a second-round encounter with Czechia’s Tomas Machac. Unfortunately, this was not the first instance of a ball kid falling ill during this year’s tournament. In a separate incident earlier, a ball kid fainted during a match between Zeynep Sonmez and Ekaterina Alexandrova, leading to a brief delay in play.
Sonmez’s quick action in aiding the fallen ball kid was praised, emphasizing the importance of compassion over competition in such situations. TNT commentator Catherine Whitaker commended Sonmez for her attentiveness and quick response, highlighting the critical role she played in ensuring the well-being of the affected individual.