Ball boy cops hit to unmentionables in Australian Open

A fierce serve from Spaniard Feliciano Lopez left a ball boy walking gingerly from the court today.

The high-speed serve slammed into his crotch at the Australian Open today.

Lopez was playing against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino when the 200km/hr serve slipped past Mannarino's racquet and thudded home in the ball boy's most sensitive spot.

The match came to a halt at 3-2 as the boy struggled to recover.

Despite bravely trying to carry on, he was forced from the court a few minutes later as the pain refused to abate.

The ball boy returned and carried on with his duties later in the game.