Australian Open ball kid collapses in middle of match in concerning scenes

Play was halted astatine the Australian Open connected Sunday erstwhile players were alerted to a concern with an unwell shot kid, who was aboriginal confirmed to person collapsed owed to utmost heat

A shot kid appeared collapsed during play astatine the Australian Open connected Sunday successful the searing vigor connected Margaret Court Arena.

Tim Puetz and Demi Schuurs were playing JP Smith and Kimberly Birrell successful the mixed doubles erstwhile spectators successful the assemblage tried to gully attraction to the child, who looked unwell.

After celebrating a point, Puetz and Schuurs recognised that thing was incorrect with the child, who was adjacent the baseline. After rushing over, the kid appeared to faint successful Puetz's arms.

The lucifer umpire besides rushed implicit earlier aesculapian unit were called to thin to the youngster connected the hottest time of the tourney truthful far.

Chris Bradnam addressed the scenes connected commentary, saying: "There intelligibly was a small spot of distress. It's been a scorcher of a day, implicit 30 degrees celcius. Need an crystal battalion and immoderate fluid beauteous quickly."

Former British No.1 Anne Keothavong added: "Not what you privation to spot but everyone doing their champion to help. Help is connected the way. Not casual retired determination for anyone."

Towels were held up to effort and supply the youngster with immoderate privateness aft medics arrived connected the scene. Eurosport would past divert their sum distant from the court, with pundits aboriginal confirming the kid fainted owed to the utmost vigor and near the arena successful a wheelchair.

Rachel Stringer said: "We conscionable saw a shot kid has fainted owed to the utmost vigor today. It’s blistery retired there. The conditions are investigating not conscionable for the players but for everybody progressive successful making this tourney a success. You tin spot them being wheeled disconnected the court.

"We’re hoping they marque a speedy betterment and it’s not excessively serious. Our thoughts are with that kid there."

John McEnroe besides chimed successful to explicate conscionable however blistery it was successful Melbourne connected the time successful question adding: "Conditions are beauteous brutal. It's presently astir 32 celsius. Even toastier erstwhile you're connected a hardcourt surface, the cement surface.

"Needless to accidental it’s important to get a speedy start. I deliberation that’s wherefore you saw Draper halt playing, the vigor got to him, you saw helium had different injuries from the 3 five-setters.

"Davidovich Fokina did the aforesaid thing. You conscionable don’t person the aforesaid will. I’m sitting present reasoning I’m going to faint similar that mediocre shot kid."