Zeynep Sonmez Achieves Historic Wimbledon Milestone for Turkish tennis

In a stunning display of skill and determination, Zeynep Sonmez has etched her name in Turkish tennis history at Wimbledon 2025.The 23-year-old secured a momentous victory, becoming the first Turkish player, male or female, to advance to the third round of a Grand Slam tournament in the Open Era.

Sonmez’s path to Wimbledon History

Sonmez’s journey to this historic achievement was marked by a decisive 7-5, 7-5 victory over Wang Xinyu. This win not only propelled her into the third round but also solidified her place as a trailblazer for Turkish tennis. Prior to Sonmez, only two players from Türkiye had managed to win main-draw matches at Grand slam events during the Open Era.

Cagla Buyukakcay, formerly ranked No. 60, reached the second round of Grand Slam tournaments three times between 2016 and 2017, though never at Wimbledon. On the men’s side, Marsel Ilhan, previously ranked No. 77, made it to the second round seven times between 2009 and 2015, including twice at wimbledon, but never progressed further.

Did You Know? …

Before the Open Era, Bahtiye musluoglu was the last turkish woman to reach the third round of a major, achieving this feat at the Roland garros in 1950.

A Dream Unfolds on Court 17

Ranked no. 88, Sonmez demonstrated resilience in her match, overcoming a 4-1 deficit in the first set. She clinched the victory with a courageous hold, despite facing a 0-40 disadvantage on Court 17. The court was filled with keen fans, many of whom had traveled from Istanbul to support her.

One such fan, Hudai, led chants of “Sonuna kadar destekleyeceğiz seni, Zeynep” (“We will support you to the end, Zeynep”). He told wtatennis.com that it was his first time at Wimbledon and that he and his friends had rushed to Court 17 to secure seats for Sonmez’s match.

Pro Tip: …

Following her victory, Sonmez expressed her gratitude to her supporters, stating, “I want to say thank you so much for all the support, in both my first and second rounds. I feel there are a lot of Turkish people, and it makes me very happy.”

Rising Star in Turkish Sports

Turkish journalist Alpasen Duven noted that Sonmez’s profile is rapidly growing in Türkiye. Her WTA title win in Merida in November 2024 propelled her into the Top 100, making her only the second Turkish woman to achieve this milestone, after Buyukakcay.

Duven explained, “She’s not yet a mainstream celebrity like top footballers or Olympic medalists in Türkiye, but her profile is rising fast after Wimbledon. The general public sees her as a breath of fresh air for Turkish sports – someone achieving at the global level without controversy.”

Wimbledon Results: Key Stats