Turkish Qualifier Sonmez Upsets Alexandrova at Australian Open

In Melbourne, Australia, on January 18, 2026, Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez pulled off a stunning upset in the first round of the Australian Open, defeating 11th-seeded Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 to become the first woman from Turkey to reach the second round at the tournament. The match at 1573 Arena was interrupted when a ball girl fainted from the heat, prompting Sonmez to rush to her aid in a display of sportsmanship that drew applause from the crowd.

The incident occurred late in the second set as Alexandrova served, with temperatures at 28 degrees Celsius. The ball girl, standing near the umpire's chair, collapsed backward but briefly stood before wobbling again. Sonmez immediately signaled to pause play, sprinted across the court, and placed an arm around the girl's waist to guide her to a shaded seat. Officials and medical staff quickly intervened, providing treatment including water and ice, while the girl fainted once more during the assistance. Play resumed after a delay of about seven minutes, during which the players waited off court.

Sonmez, a 23-year-old ranked 112th in the world, maintained her composure after the stoppage. She broke...