Tennis legend rushes to help ball girl as she collapses during live TV interview

30 November 2023 , 12:05

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Alicia Molik rushed to help the young girl (Image: 7NEWS Adelaide)

Australian tennis legend Alicia Molik rushed to help a young ball girl after she collapsed during a live TV broadcast.

Molik is a two-time grand slam doubles winner and an Olympic bronze medallist and she was being interviewed on Australian TV about her new role as tournament director of the Adelaide International when the incident occurred.

She had just been asked a question when a loud thud was suddenly heard, prompting Molik and others to turn around in shock. And the 42-year-old was the first to act after noticing a young ball girl had collapsed on the floor and was not moving.

Molik immediately ran over to her and rolled her over onto her side. She also comforted the girl and remained with her until paramedics arrived. The teenager is now recovering in hospital.

The incident occurred as Molik vowed to "give back" to the sport in her home town, with the next edition of the Adelaide International set to take place in January ahead of the Australian Open.

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"Tennis is part of my everyday DNA and to have the opportunity to be a part of a world-class tennis event in the city where I grew up is really something special," Molik said after being unveiled as the new tournament director.

"This is a chance for me to give back to the community that supported me throughout my on-court career and still to this day. The last decade with the Australian Billie Jean King Cup team has prepared me for this next challenge.

"Working with players and their teams to understand how to provide the best competition experience is critical to the ongoing growth of the tournament and its success." Molik spent the last ten years leading Australia's Billie Jean King Cup team.

Australia may have been knocked out of this year's tournament in the group stages, but Molik feels optimistic about the future. "Women's tennis in Australia has been, from a team's perspective, in a really strong position," she said.

"In the last 10 years, we went from having a No.4 in the world in Sam Stosur to a No.1 in singles in Ash Barty, who started and finished her career under my tenure. Now we have another (doubles) No.1 in Storm Hunter, and Ellen (Perez) has hit one of the highest points in her doubles career (at world No.17) as well. It's in an incredibly healthy spot."

Matthew Cooper