Zeynep Sönmez Makes History: First Turkish Woman to Reach 3rd Round at a Grand Slam in the Open Era
Competing at the prestigious s in LondonWimbledon Championship, Turkish national tennis player Zeynep Sönmez achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Turkish woman ever to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tournament in the Open Era.
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Playing in the Wimbledon main draw for the first time, Sönmez secured back-to-back impressive victories to reach the third round, where she faced Russia’s Ekaterina Aleksandrova. Despite a hard-fought match that ended 2-0 (3-6, 6-7) in favor of her opponent, her overall performance was hailed as a breakthrough for Turkish tennis.
Speaking to the press after the match, Zeynep Sönmez said:
“I realized that my dreams are not that far away. By taking it step by step, I saw how close I can actually get to them. I also saw what I need to improve and gained even more belief in my own potential.”
Sönmez described the Wimbledon experience as “very special,” emphasizing her commitment to getting better every day, both on and off the court.
Her mother Esra Özdoğan also shared her pride, stating:
“We’re not focused on results. Every match and every point is about development. What matters most is that Zeynep enjoys being on the court and continues to grow.”
Turkey’s Ambassador to London, Osman Koray
Ertaş, who watched the match in person, praised the achievement:
“Zeynep gave us a historic joy. We finally broke the ice at Wimbledon. We hope for even bigger success in the coming years.”
After this milestone, Zeynep Sönmez will continue to represent Türkiye in upcoming tournaments as she works to further develop her game and reach new heights.
