Ball girl collapses; match stopped at Australian Open — Watch

NEW DELHI: Play was concisely stopped during a first-round lucifer astatine the Australian Open connected Sunday aft a shot miss collapsed amid rising temperatures, prompting players Zeynep Sonmez and Ekaterina Alexandrova to unreserved to her aid.The incidental occurred during the 2nd acceptable arsenic Russian 11th effect Alexandrova was serving, erstwhile the shot miss abruptly fell backward adjacent the umpire’s chair.

Turkish qualifier Sonmez instantly ran crossed to assist, portion Alexandrova collected crystal packs from a courtside refrigerator arsenic aesculapian unit attended to the girl.With temperatures touching 28 degrees Celsius, play was suspended for respective minutes earlier resuming.

Once enactment restarted, Sonmez went connected to propulsion disconnected the biggest triumph of her career, defeating Alexandrova 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

The 23-year-old Sonmez had made headlines astatine Wimbledon past twelvemonth by becoming the archetypal Turkish subordinate successful the Open epoch to scope the 3rd circular of a Grand Slam. She volition adjacent look either American wildcard Elizabeth Mandlik oregon Hungary’s Anna Bondar.The Australian Open is nary alien to utmost heat, with temperatures often climbing beyond 40°C. Forecasts suggest highs of astatine slightest 36°C aboriginal this week.