French tennis player Arthur Fils showed concern for a young ball girl after she was accidentally struck in the face during his Paris Masters match against American opponent Taylor Fritz.
The incident happened when Fritz delivered a serve that went out of play before taking an unexpected bounce off the back of the court and hitting the ball girl in the face.
The impact left the youngster in tears, prompting an immediate reaction from Fils, who stopped what he was doing to check on her condition.
The 22-year-old approached the visibly distressed girl, comforted her and accompanied her off the court so she could receive medical attention.
His gesture drew warm applause from the home crowd, who watched as the Frenchman put the match aside to attend to the injured court official.
Fritz also appeared concerned by what had happened and walked towards the net to check on the ball girl.
Fritz Advances Despite Incident
Despite the interruption, Fritz maintained control of the contest and secured a straight-sets victory over Fils.
The American won 6-3, 6-4 without facing a single break point throughout the match, booking his place in the next round.
Fils’ response to the incident was subsequently shared on social media, with footage showing him approaching the ball girl as she struggled to contain her tears.
Nadal Previously Comforted Ball Girl After Similar Incident
The incident brought back memories of a similar occurrence at the 2020 Australian Open involving Rafael Nadal.
The Spanish tennis star accidentally struck a ball girl standing near the umpire’s chair with a powerful forehand during a match.
Nadal immediately apologised and embraced the youngster before later giving her the headband he had worn during the match as another gesture of regret.
Another Ball Girl Injured During Alcaraz Match
There was another incident involving a ball girl during Fritz’s subsequent encounter with Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris Masters.
On this occasion, the youngster was injured after falling while running towards a corner of the court.
Photographers and tournament staff rushed to assist her, while both players also approached to check on her condition.
Tennis commentator Daniela Hantuchova suggested that the ball girl might have twisted her ankle.
She said the youngster appeared to have suffered an ankle injury and explained that play would be delayed while she received the necessary treatment.
The ball girl was eventually replaced by another member of the court staff as she was taken away for medical attention.
Alcaraz went on to win the match in three sets, securing his place in the semi-finals.
