An ATP quarterfinal match in Vienna ground to a sudden halt on Friday after a ball kid collapsed behind the baseline, prompting both tennis professionals and the chair umpire to rush to his aid. t-online.de reported that the incident occurred during the opening set of the match between Daniil Medvedev and Adrian Mannarino at the Wiener Stadthalle.
Match Interrupted as Players and Umpire Rush to Court
The medical emergency unfolded mid-match while Medvedev and Mannarino were locked in the first set. According to heute.at, the players were in the middle of a rally at 0-2 and 40-30 when chair umpire Manuel Messina spotted the youth going down near the advertising boards and immediately stopped play.
Oh my, a ball boy not feeling well in the Medvedev-Mannarino match. Collapsed mid point.Removed from the court in a stretcher. pic.twitter.com/RVD3iquKBK
Neither television cameras nor the players caught the exact moment of the collapse initially, as the ball kid was positioned directly behind Medvedev. Once Messina intervened and pointed out the situation, both Medvedev and Mannarino abandoned their positions to check on the teenager. Emergency medical personnel arrived on the center court within seconds carrying a stretcher.
Medical Response and Safe Exit Under Stadium Applause
As medical staff administered first aid on the court, the young tournament worker regained consciousness. bild.de reported that the teenager was able to stand up under his own power, though he remained visibly shaken and dazed by the ordeal.
Paramedics instructed the youth not to attempt walking out of the arena unassisted. He was placed on a rescue stretcher and transported out of the hall as spectators in the Wiener Stadthalle stood and offered sustained applause. The unexpected medical interruption halted play for several minutes.
Medvedev Advances After Brief Delay
Once medical personnel cleared the court, tournament officials resumed the quarterfinal fixture. The third-seeded Medvedev ultimately secured his spot in the semifinals by defeating Mannarino in straight sets, 6:2, 6:3.
Reflecting on the physical demands of the encounter in a post-match interview with Servus TV, cited by bild.de, Medvedev noted that the victory came down to court positioning. Es war ein hartes, körperlich anstrengendes Match,
the Russian star stated, explaining that success depended on forcing the opponent into unfavorable positions during long rallies.
