French tennis star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has become a local favourite at the Australian Open after he swooped to the aid of a ball girl in distress on Wednesday night.
Ninth seed Tsonga spanked Australian Omar Jasika in straight sets but it was heartwarming display of empathy that most impressed fans in Melbourne and beyond.
Noticing that a ball girl was feeling unwell, Tsonga walked over to check she was OK before signalling for medical assistance.
The Frenchmen then held her arm and guided her off the court, keeping her stable on her feet.
"I saw she was in trouble," Tsonga said after the match.
"It was normal to help her out of the stadium. I hope she's OK."
The reaction was pretty uniform.
Tsonga's classy display calls to mind another act of sportsmanship from earlier in the tournament when local favourite John Millman came to the aid of his opponent, Diego Schwartzman.
When Schwartzman succumbed to bad cramps in the Melbourne heat after the third set, Millman rushed to his side to offer his help.
"I'm sorry mate, I'm sorry. This is not nice," he said.
"Can I get anything for you? I have salt tablets... will that help? Sorry Diego, sorry."
Millman then consoled Schwartzman's trainer as his opponent was stretchered off the court.