Scary moment in Rome as ball boy faints during Venus-Vandeweghe match

It's been a rough season for ball boys in pro tennis. About a month after one crashed into a wall at the Barcelona Open, another face-planted on the red clay in Rome.

The incident occurred early in the match between Venus Williams and CoCo Vandeweghe. The latter was serving at 0-1 and deuce when the boy positioned over Venus' right shoulder fell to the ground in the brutal Italian heat. Soon after fainting, he came to and looked around, a bit bewildered. Venus, the 14th-ranked player in the world, watched as a fellow ball boy and tournament workers attended to the boy, brushing clay away from his face, elevating his legs and then carrying him off the court to safe harbor.

Venus ultimately won the match, 6-4, 6-3. She fell, so to speak, in the next round to Timea Babos by a 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4 count. On the same day at the event, Venus and sister Serena fell in their opening doubles match.

The ball boy will recover, thankfully. So, too, will Venus, who may be encouraged by her results—despite the unfavorable outcome—after grinding out a grueling, three-hour match in round two.

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