An Australian Open spectator has potentially saved a young ball kid from serious injury after alerting the players they were about to collapse during a doubles match on Sunday. There were distressing scenes during the mixed doubles match between Aussie pair Kimberly Birrell and John-Patrick Smith, and Netherlands veteran Demi Schuurs and Germany’s Tim Puetz, when a ball kid needed medical assistance.
A quick-thinking spectator spotted the kid struggling at the back of the court because they were throwing balls when no-one had asked for them and appeared to be staggering on their feet. The fan could be heard yelling out to the players: “He’s going to collapse. The ball kid is going to collapse.”
Puetz responded the quickest, rushing over and preventing the youngster from falling over. Puetz helped lower the kid to the court to lay down before the other players and officials rushed in to help.
If not for the actions of the spectator to alert the players about what was happening, the young kid could have fallen to the court and potentially hit their head. The match was stopped for a lengthy period while the kid received fluids and was cooled down with ice and towels.
The temperature in Melbourne hit 33.9C at 5.30pm when the match started, and was sitting at 31.5C when the incident occurred. Unfortunately it’s not the first time we’ve seen a ballkid affected by the scorching heat at the Australian Open, which takes place in the middle of the Aussie summer.
Tennis fans send well-wishes to Australian Open ball kid
Commentator David Basheer said: “All it takes is the ball kids not to take on the right type of liquid refreshments and these sorts of things can happen on what has been the hottest day of the AO 2025. They train for this event, so proud to represent the grand slam. It’s absolutely not what you want to see anywhere but they’ve done the right thing to assess the youngster.”
-The ball kid was taken from the court in a wheelchair and received a warm round of applause. A Tennis Australia spokesperson later confirmed the youngster was fine and in the care of their parents.
Play resume about 10 minutes after the incident, with Smith and Birrell winning 6-3 5-7 10-8 to advance to the quarter-finals. Tennis fans took to social media to wish the ball-kid well.
RELATED:
Why ball kids don’t get paid at Australian Open
The conditions that ball kids work in at the Australian Open became a point of contention in 2023 when it was revealed they don’t get paid. At the time, ball kids got $15 per hour at the US Open, while at Wimbledon they get a flat rate of $351 per week. But at the Australian Open they take part for the love of the sport and the experience.
Tennis Australia offers its ball kids a gift bag and food allowance for the two-week event at Melbourne Park, however there is no monetary compensation. They were previously paid $40 until Tennis Australia reclassified the job in 2008 and made it a volunteer position.
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