A ball kid’s illness caused a delay in a match at the Australian Open between Greek player Stefano Tsitsipas and Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki. Mochizuki took the first set 6-4, but Tsitsipas rallied to win the second set 6-3. During the third set, a ball kid fell sick near the court, prompting a temporary stoppage for medical attention.
The match interruption puzzled TNT Sports commentators who awaited clarification. The incident occurred shortly after Naomi Osaka’s game suspension at the Rod Laver Arena. Play resumed after the affected area was cleaned up, with Tsitsipas winning the next two sets 6-2, securing a second-round encounter with Tomas Machac from Czechia.
Unfortunately, this was not the first instance of a ball kid falling ill at the tournament. In a separate incident, a ball kid fainted during a match between Zeynep Sonmez and Ekaterina Alexandrova. Sonmez swiftly assisted the girl to safety, leading to a brief delay in play. Sonmez’s quick thinking and care for the girl were commended by TNT commentator Catherine Whitaker.
Share your predictions on the Australian Open winners in the comments section.