Zeynep Sonmez etched her name into the history books by becoming the first Turkish player in the Open Era to reach the third round of a Grand Slam. Her 7-5, 7-5 victory over China’s Wang Xinyu at Wimbledon marked a significant achievement not only for her career but for her country, which had not seen a player reach this stage in 75 years.
Overcoming challenges on Court 17
The match was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts. Sonmez battled back from a 4-1 deficit in the first set and held her nerve during a tense second set, ultimately sealing the win with a gutsy hold from 0-40 down. The crowd on Court 17, filled with passionate Turkish supporters, added to the electric atmosphere.
Embracing the support and spotlight
After the match, Sonmez spent time taking selfies with fans who had traveled from Istanbul to cheer her on. She expressed deep gratitude for the support, saying it made her feel at home in London. The 23-year-old also shared that she hadn’t realized the historical significance of her achievement until after the match.
Inspiring the next generation
Sonmez hopes her success will inspire young players in Türkiye. She mentioned hearing stories of children watching her matches in tennis clubs back home, and she wants them to believe that reaching the highest levels of the sport is possible.
Looking ahead with confidence
With her next match set against Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, Sonmez remains focused and optimistic. Though she admitted she never dreamed of reaching the third round, her ambition now stretches further. “I dreamed of winning it,” she said, hinting at a hunger for even greater accomplishments.
Sonmez in Wimbledon, ranking, and results in 2025
Currently ranked no.88, Zeynep has a composed 17-16 record in 2025. Sonmez is now having a run in Wimbledon where she beat the world no.52 Jaqueline Cristian 7-6(3) 6-3 and the world no.32 Xinyu Wang 7-5 7-5.
Zeynep Sonmez will square off with the world no.17 Ekaterina Alexandrova in the 3rd round on Saturday at 2:00 pm on Court 12. They have never competed against each other as of now on the main tour.