Zeynep Sönmez is one of the professional female tennis players developed in Türkiye to have won a WTA singles title. She has set as her goal consistent competition at the Grand Slam main draw level by entering the top 100 in the WTA rankings; the demands of professional tennis—including tournament travel schedules, long journeys, and adaptation to different court conditions—have become defining elements of her career.

^{Zeynep Sönmez (AA)}

Zeynep Sönmez was born on 30 April 2002 in Istanbul. The athlete, whose family is from Artvin, continued her childhood and early sporting experiences in Istanbul.

Sönmez is 170 cm tall. The tennis player is right-handed.

Zeynep Sönmez’s introduction to tennis dates back to the age of six or seven. Encouraged by her family to attend summer school, she gravitated toward tennis earlier than other sports options and began spending time on the court. Being noticed by a coach during this period marked the beginning of her focused tennis development path.

Sönmez follows a daily routine that begins early in the morning. She has stated that she completes at least two training sessions each day. She has also maintained mental training alongside her physical conditioning. This approach has become an integral part of her strategy to ensure performance consistency within the demanding professional tennis calendar.

Sönmez has mentioned using a notebook during matches, to which she refers during breaks. This notebook contains tactical notes as well as methods for mentally refocusing when the flow of play does not go as planned. Rather than relying on rituals or talismans, she prepares physically and mentally by visualizing the match beforehand.

According to her WTA player profile, Sönmez’s coach is Issam Jellali^【1】. Her fitness and mental coach is identified as Mehmet Bayraktar^【2】. This structure demonstrates how the athlete’s on-court technical preparation is integrated with her physical and mental resilience program.

WTA records show that Sönmez’s career-high ranking is 69^【3】. The same source indicates that her current ranking at the time was 112, with a season win-loss record of 24 wins and 27 losses^【4】.

Sönmez won the singles title at the WTA 250 Mérida tournament in Mexico. This achievement made her the second Turkish woman to win a WTA-level singles title after Çağla Büyükakçay. Her journey to the tournament involved a travel chain from Tokyo to Istanbul, then to Miami, and finally to Mérida, leaving her with limited time for preparation and rest. Despite this, she adapted successfully to the different weather conditions and court surfaces.

In her first appearance at the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament, Sönmez reached the third round. This stage is recognized as one of the highest rounds achieved by a Turkish female tennis player in Grand Slam history. Given that quarterfinal matches in Wimbledon occur after the fourth round, the significance of the third round within the tournament’s progression is clarified.

In March 2024, Sönmez stated that she had competed in all Grand Slam tournaments except Roland Garros. The tennis player emphasized that full participation in the Grand Slam calendar is a key component of her career planning^【5】.

Sönmez has stated that her greatest dream is to win a Grand Slam title^【6】. Participating in the Olympics and entering the world’s top 10 are also among her career objectives.

Sönmez has stated that her primary goal is to establish a lasting presence in the top 100 of the WTA rankings^【7】. She noted that she entered the top 100 faster than expected and now intends to focus on adapting to and sustaining performance at this level. She considers playing in Grand Slam main draws one of the most important outcomes of reaching the top 100 and has affirmed her commitment to a phased progression approach in her planning.

^{Zeynep Sönmez and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (AA)}

Zeynep Sönmez’s relationship with tennis was shaped during childhood by following the world’s leading tennis figures. During this period, she grew up watching Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams. In later stages of her career, she developed a habit of observing Victoria Azarenka and Li Na. Among male players, she closely followed Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal. This viewing practice demonstrates that Sönmez’s connection to tennis culture extends beyond playing the game; she actively follows its historical and technical dimensions. Her shifting focus to different players across eras reflects the evolution and development of her understanding of tennis.

Zeynep Sönmez views pressure in the professional tennis environment as an inevitable element. She does not perceive pressure solely as a challenging factor but as a component that enables sustainable performance. Guided by this perspective, she has made mental preparation a cornerstone of her career. Amid long travel schedules, intense tournament calendars, and the physical toll of professional sport, she has embraced mental resilience as a top priority. Mental preparation is not confined to match days but has become a year-round training area.

Music plays a significant role in Zeynep Sönmez’s pre-match routines. She favors Turkish 1990s music during this period. Her listening habits include Sezen Aksu, Tarkan, Yalın, and Kenan Doğulu. Turkish pop music from the 1990s has become one of the dominant musical genres in her daily life and pre-match preparation. Artists such as Sezen Aksu, Tarkan, Sertab Erener, and Mustafa Sandal form the musical framework of this era. Music serves as a tool to support mental balance amid the intense pace of tournaments.

One of Zeynep Sönmez’s interests outside the court is cinema. Films serve as a means of mental relaxation and focus renewal during the demanding tournament schedule. Cinema has become an integral part of her daily life, helping to balance the mental burdens of professional sport.

^{Zeynep Sönmez (AA)}

Turkey’s tennis infrastructure has reached a measurable scale in terms of registered players, clubs, and courts. As of 2023, the country has approximately 11,000 registered tennis players, nearly 700 tennis clubs, and over 2,000 courts. These figures demonstrate that tennis in Türkiye has developed a substantial institutional and physical infrastructure.

Zeynep Sönmez has emphasized the importance of making matches of Turkish tennis players competing at Grand Slam and WTA levels more visible in Türkiye through live broadcasts. Increased broadcast availability is directly linked to expanding tennis viewership and enhancing athlete visibility. Within this framework, media visibility is recognized as a decisive factor in popularizing tennis in Türkiye.

The Australian Open began on 12 January, with the final match scheduled for 31 January. As the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sönmez earned a spot in the main draw after performing well in the qualifying rounds.

In her first match at the Australian Open qualifiers, Zeynep Sönmez faced Laura Samsonova. Throughout the match, Sönmez maintained control and dominated her opponent in both sets.

• First set: 6-2
• Second set: 6-2

Winning the match 2-0, Sönmez advanced to the next round of qualifying.

In the second qualifying round, Zeynep Sönmez faced Julia Riera and continued her run without dropping a set. After a balanced start, Sönmez increased her advantage in the later games.

• First set: 6-3
• Second set: 6-1

Winning the match 2-0, Sönmez advanced to the qualifying final.

Zeynep Sönmez competed in the qualifying final against Anastasia Gasanova on the night of 14 January into 15 January at 03:00. In this match, which determined her entry into the main draw, Sönmez maintained her consistent play.

• First set: 6-3
• Second set: 6-2

Winning the match 2-0, Zeynep Sönmez earned a place in the main draw of the Australian Open.

The main draw matches of the Australian Open, i.e., the first-round matches of the Grand Slam tournament, were played on 18 January.

^{2026 Australian Open Zeynep Sönmez (AA)}

• First set: The national tennis player Zeynep Sönmez did not start the match as she intended, falling behind 5-2 in the first set. However, she did not lose focus. Holding on to two set points, Zeynep seized control at critical moments and won the set 7-5.
• Second set: Entering the second set with a break of serve, Zeynep gained an early 3-1 advantage. However, Ekaterina Alexandrova increased her rhythm after this phase and won consecutive games to take the set 6-4.
• Deciding set: Falling behind 3-0 in the final set, Zeynep achieved parity after a 15-minute sixth game. In a set marked by alternating breaks of serve, the national player took the lead at 5-4 and clinched the set 6-4 on her fourth match point, winning the match 2-1 after a match lasting 2 hours and 37 minutes.

• First set: The national tennis player Zeynep Sönmez started the match in control, taking command of the tempo early in the first set. She broke her opponent’s serve twice and advanced without error in her own service games to win the set 6-2.
• Second set: Against Anna Bondar, who played a more balanced game in the second set, Zeynep maintained her consistency in service games and emerged as the decisive force in critical moments. The national player broke her opponent’s serve twice again and won the set 6-4, completing the match 2-0 and exiting the contest after 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Zeynep Sönmez received a special invitation to compete in the Mérida Open Women’s Tennis Tournament held in Mérida, Mexico, which is categorized as a WTA 500 event. The 23-year-old athlete, ranked 81st in the world, competed in the singles category.

Zeynep Sönmez won her only WTA singles title at the 2024 Mérida Open, a WTA 250 tournament.

In the first round of the tournament’s singles draw, Zeynep Sönmez faced Canadian Cadence Brace, ranked 204th in the world. After advancing from qualifying, Brace was defeated 6-2, 6-0 by Sönmez, who progressed to the second round.

It was announced that in the second round, Sönmez would face Ann Li, the No. 3 seed whom she defeated in the final of the 2024 tournament.

In the second round, Zeynep Sönmez faced Ann Li, the No. 3 seed and world No. 39, who had received a bye in the first round.

Sönmez won the match 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals, Zeynep Sönmez’s opponent was Spanish player Cristina Bucsa, ranked 61st in the world.

The 23-year-old athlete lost to Bucsa in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 and exited the tournament at the quarterfinal stage.

Indian Wells Masters is one of the women’s singles main draw matches of the tournament held in California, USA. Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sönmez faced American tennis player McCartney Kessler in the first round and advanced to the second round after winning in two sets.

The 23-year-old Sönmez, competing in the WTA 1000 category, won the first set of the match in a tie-break 7-6. In the second set, the Turkish player did not lose a single game, winning the set 6-0 and completing the match 2-0.

With this victory, Zeynep Sönmez became the first Turkish tennis player to win a match in the main draw of the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament. In the second round, she will face Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya, ranked 22nd in the world.

In the second round of the tournament, Zeynep Sönmez faced Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya, ranked 22nd in the world. Kalinskaya won the match 6-4, 7-6, defeating Sönmez in two sets. As a result, Zeynep Sönmez exited the tournament in the second round.

The 2026 Miami Open Tennis Tournament is an international event held in Miami, USA, and is categorized as a WTA 1000 tournament on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) calendar. The tournament features participation from top-ranked tennis players worldwide.

Zeynep Sönmez, representing Türkiye, entered the main draw in the women’s singles category. Ranked 83rd in the world, Sönmez faced Brazilian tennis player Beatriz Haddad Maia, ranked 69th. The match was part of the first-round pairings.

The match concluded with Zeynep Sönmez’s dominance. She defeated her opponent 6-3, 6-2 and advanced to the next round.

Zeynep Sönmez’s opponent in the second round will be Swiss tennis player Belinda Bencic, seeded 12th in the tournament.

In the second round, Zeynep Sönmez, ranked 83rd in the world, faced Swiss tennis player Belinda Bencic. The match, affected by rain, lasted 1 hour and 9 minutes.

The match ended with Bencic winning 6-3, 6-2. As a result, Sönmez exited the tournament in the second round.

Zeynep Sönmez’s performance at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, encompassed a remarkable journey from the qualifying rounds through the main draw and into the second round.

According to the Turkish Tennis Federation, Zeynep Sönmez competed in the qualifying rounds of the WTA 500 clay-court tournament in Stuttgart. In the first qualifying round, she faced German tennis player Victoria Pohle and defeated her 6-3, 6-4. This victory advanced her to the final qualifying round.

In the final qualifying round, Sönmez faced another German player, Anna-Lena Friedsam, and delivered another strong performance. She won the match 6-4, 6-0, securing her place in the main draw.

In her first main draw match, Sönmez was drawn against Jasmine Paolini, the tournament’s No. 5 seed and world No. 8. This match held significant importance in Sönmez’s career.

Zeynep Sönmez delivered an effective performance and defeated her opponent in two sets. The match ended 6-2, 6-2. With this result, Sönmez achieved the milestone of defeating a top-10 player for the first time in her career.

Following this victory, Zeynep Sönmez advanced to the second round of the tournament. In the second round, she faced Canadian tennis player Leylah Fernandez, ranked 25th in the world. Fernandez won the match 6-1, 7-6, eliminating Sönmez from the tournament. As a result of her performance throughout the event, Sönmez rose 12 places in the WTA rankings to reach world No. 67, setting a new career-high.

One of the significant events in Zeynep Sönmez’s career was the 2026 Spain-based tournament, in which she competed in both women’s singles and doubles categories and advanced through multiple rounds. The athlete faced opponents from various countries and played on clay courts during this event.

In the first round of the women’s singles competition, Zeynep Sönmez faced Spanish player Carlota Martinez Cirez and eliminated her to progress to the second round. In the second round, she faced Cristina Bucsa, then Spain’s top-ranked female tennis player. Sönmez won the first set comfortably 6-1. Despite falling behind 3-0 in the second set, she managed to turn the score to 5-3 in her favor, but ultimately lost the set due to unforced errors and her opponent’s improved performance. In the deciding set, she defeated her opponent 6-2 to win the match 2-1 and advance to the third round (Round of 32). During the match, Sönmez was observed turning her face toward the wall during breaks to self-motivate, a behavior that Spanish broadcast channel TDP commentators described as the “Turkish wall.” The athlete also received strong support from Turkish citizens in the stands.

^{2026 Madrid Open Tennis Tournament (AA)}

At the time, ranked 67th in the world, Sönmez faced Argentine player Solana Sierra, ranked 88th, in the Round of 32. Sönmez won the first set decisively 6-0, but then lost psychological momentum due to simple errors, allowing her opponent to take control. She lost the second set 6-2 and the third set 6-3, exiting the singles competition 2-1.

^{2026 Madrid Open Tennis Tournament (AA)}

In the women’s doubles competition, Zeynep Sönmez partnered with Filipino tennis player Alexandra Eala. The pair faced the Taiwanese-Hungarian duo of Hao-Ching Chan and Fanny Stollar on clay. They won both sets 6-2 to advance to the second round (Round of 16).

In the Round of 16, they faced the American-Czech pair of Taylor Townsend and Kateřina Siniaková. Sönmez and Eala lost the match 6-1, 7-5 and were eliminated from the doubles competition.

The 2026 Rome Open (Internazionali BNL d’Italia), a WTA 1000 tournament in which Zeynep Sönmez participated, is one of the events where she competed in the main draw and secured a victory. The Rome Open, classified as a WTA 1000 tournament, is held in Rome, Italy, on clay courts at the Foro Italico Complex. Zeynep Sönmez, ranked 65th in the world, made her main draw debut at the Rome Open on 5 May 2026.

Zeynep Sönmez’s first-round opponent at the Rome Open was Italian tennis player Jennifer Ruggeri. At the time of the match, Ruggeri, aged 22, received a wildcard entry as a host nation representative. Prior to the tournament, Ruggeri was ranked 265th in the world. This match marked Ruggeri’s debut in a WTA main draw.

The first-round match between Zeynep Sönmez and Jennifer Ruggeri lasted a total of 2 hours and 7 minutes and was decided over three sets, with the following statistical breakdown:

• First Set: The first set was won by Italian tennis player Jennifer Ruggeri. Zeynep Sönmez lost the set 6-4.
• Second Set: Returning to the court after the first set, Zeynep Sönmez began the second set strongly. The national player broke Ruggeri’s serve three times during the set. With this advantage, Sönmez won the second set 6-2, leveling the match at 1-1.
• Third (Deciding) Set: In the deciding set, Zeynep Sönmez maintained control of the match. She won the set 6-2, matching the score of her previous set.

In the final result of the three-set match, Zeynep Sönmez defeated Jennifer Ruggeri 2-1 (4-6, 6-2, 6-2). This victory marked Sönmez’s first win in the main draw of the Rome Open (Internazionali BNL d’Italia). The world No. 65 advanced to the second round after successfully passing the first round. Her second-round opponent will be Jessica Pegula, seeded No. 5 in the tournament.