VIDEO: Concerning scenes as ballgirl collapses on court during Australian Open qualifying match

Australian Open qualifying has begun, with tennis players eager to get a spot in the main draw of the Grand Slam. It is a gruelling event for the players, who have to come through three matches to book their spot in the draw. However, it is also brutal for the people working at the event, with a ballgirl collapsing on court during one of the matches.

The incident occurred in a first round matchup between Luca van Assche and Moez Echargui. Just as the Frenchman looking to solidify the break of serve he just got in the second set, a concerning scene arose where the ballgirl stumbled over onto the ground, seemingly not in control.

Fortunately, help was on hand. Echargui, who was wiping his face with his towel, turned around to see the distressing situation unfold. He went over to her before waving his arms to call for immediate help while the ballgirl struggled to get up. She managed to in the end with help from Echargui and the Umpire who had jumped from his chair and came rushing over to give support.

The ballgirl, who looked visibly dazed and confused, was sat on the sidelines with a parasol over her head, protecting her from the sun. A Tennis Australia representative was soon seen checking their well-being. It is still unclear what caused the incident, but it is a worrying sign.

Normally, concerns would be echoed out about the heat in Melbourne, but it only got to 21.9°C as the highest temperature on Monday. That temperature is set to rise drastically with the main event starting on January 18. That day will see temperatures rise to a high of 25°C, with it set to rise even higher over the next week.

The Australian Open is synonymous with its brutal conditions. While the heat may not be the highest the country experiences throughout the year, the high humidity plays a part in this. It also gets hotter inside the courts, and can be very hard to deal with for anyone on court. This ranges from the players to the ballgirl who are constantly being blasted by the sun's rays throughout the session.

This is not the first incident like this to occur. While not regular, there have been a number of case studies of players not being able to cope with the heat, with Australia not the only place. Precautions like fans, parasols and ice towels are always on stand-by to cool the players down as the frantically run around playing tennis in these tough conditions.