Zeynep Sönmez

Zeynep Sönmez
Sönmez at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships
Country (sports) Turkey
Born (2002-04-30) 30 April 2002
Istanbul, Turkey
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
PlaysRight (two-handed backhand)
CoachIssam Jellali, Sırrı Can Yılmaz
Prize moneyUS $1,625,639
Singles
Career record238–163
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 69 (20 October 2025)
Current rankingNo. 83 (16 March 2026)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open3R (2026)
French Open1R (2024, 2025)
Wimbledon3R (2025)
US Open2R (2025)
Doubles
Career record14–34
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 382 (14 July 2025)
Current rankingNo. 505 (16 March 2026)
Grand Slam doubles results
French Open1R (2025)
Wimbledon2R (2025)
Team competitions
Fed Cup5–3
Last updated on: 16 March 2026.

Zeynep Sönmez (born 30 April 2002) is a Turkish professional tennis player. She has career-high rankings of No. 69 in singles and No. 382 in doubles by the WTA, achieved in 2025. Sönmez has won one singles title on the WTA Tour and four singles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. She is currently the No. 1 singles player from Turkey.

Sönmez competes for Turkey in the Billie Jean King Cup, where she has a win/loss record of 5–3 as of February 2025.[1]

Career

2023: WTA Tour debut, Turkish No. 1

In June 2023, Sönmez made her WTA Tour debut at the Rosmalen Open in the Netherlands as a qualifier.[2] She reached her first WTA 125 final at the Zavarovalnica Sava Ljubljana, but lost to Marina Bassols Ribera in straight sets.[3]

2024: First WTA Tour title, major & top 100 debuts

Sönmez made her WTA 1000 debut as a wildcard into the Qatar Ladies Open but lost to Lesia Tsurenko.[4] Ranked No. 157, she qualified for her first major main draw at the French Open by defeating Dejana Radanović, Aliaksandra Sasnovich, and Jana Fett in qualifying. She was the first Turkish woman to play in the main draw of the French Open since Çağla Büyükakçay and İpek Soylu in 2017.[5][6][7]

In the beginning of the grass-court season, she qualified for the main draw at the Berlin Ladies Open with upset wins over two qualifying seeds, top seed Dayana Yastremska, her first top 30 win, and ninth seed Emina Bektas. She then defeated lucky loser Arantxa Rus in the first round, recording her first WTA main-draw win.[8] She lost to Victoria Azarenka in the round of 16.[9] As a result, she reached a new career-high singles ranking of No. 136 on 24 June 2024 before the Wimbledon Championships, where she reached the third round of qualifying.[10]

In September, Sönmez reached her first WTA Tour quarterfinal at the Jasmin Open, going through qualifying, and defeated Rebeka Masarova[11] and sixth seed Greet Minnen.[12] She was the first Turkish player to reach a quarterfinal on the tour since 2017, after both Çağla Büyükakçay and Başak Eraydın made quarterfinals in Istanbul.[13] She lost in the last eight to Eva Lys.[14] Ranked No. 148, at the WTA 500 Pan Pacific Open, she qualified for the main draw and upset seventh seed Magdalena Fręch for her second top 30 win.[15]

In November, at the Mérida Open, Sönmez defeated sixth seed María Lourdes Carlé,[16][17] Elsa Jacquemot,[18] top seed Renata Zarazúa, reaching her first WTA semifinal,[19] and finally Alina Korneeva, making her first final.[20][21] She defeated Ann Li in straight sets to win her first tour-level singles title and became the first player from Turkey to win a WTA singles title since Çağla Büyükakçay in Istanbul in 2016 and only the second overall.[22] As a result, she reached the top 100 for the first time in her career, at world No. 91 on 4 November 2024.[23][24][25]

2025: First Turkish player in a major third round

Making her debut at the Australian Open, Sönmez lost in the first round to wildcard entrant Talia Gibson in three sets.[26]

Defending her title at the Mérida Open, which had been upgraded to a WTA 500 event and switched from October to February, she recorded wins over eighth seed Maria Sakkari[27] and Magda Linette[28] to make it through to the quarterfinals, where she lost to top seed and eventual champion Emma Navarro.[29]

In May at the Rabat Grand Prix, Sönmez overcame third seed Lucia Bronzetti,[30] before losing to wildcard entrant Anastasija Sevastova in the second round.[31] The following week at the French Open, she lost in the first round to 13th seed Elina Svitolina in straight sets.[32]

At Wimbledon, Sönmez defeated Jaqueline Cristian[33] and Wang Xinyu to become the first player from Turkey to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tournament in the Open Era.[34][35] Her run was ended in the third round by 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.[36]

In August, Sönmez made her main-draw debut at the US Open and overcame qualifier Katie Volynets,[37] before losing to 27th seed Marta Kostyuk in the second round.[38]

2026: Historic Australian Open third round

In November 2025, it was announced that Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur and her longtime coach Issam Jellali would be joining Sönmez's team as a mentor and her head coach, respectively, in the 2026 season.[39] At the 2026 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, Zeynep Sönmez entered the competition through the qualifying rounds. She won three consecutive qualifying matches to secure a place in the main draw.[40] In the first round of the women’s singles main draw, Sönmez defeated world No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova in three sets and advanced to the second round, the first Turkish woman to record a Grand Slam win at the Australian Open in the Open Era.[41] She reached the third round with a defeat over Anna Bondár becoming the first Turkish player in the Open Era to reach the third round of the Australian Open.[42]

Performance timeline

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# P# DNQ A Z# PO G S B NMS NTI P NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Billie Jean King Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records.[43]

Singles

Current through the 2026 Miami Open.

Tournament 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 W–L Win%
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A A Q3 1R 3R 2–2 50%
French Open A A 1R 1R 0–2 0%
Wimbledon A Q1 Q3 3R 2–1 67%
US Open A Q1 Q3 2R 1–1 50%
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 0–1 3–4 2–1 5–6 45%
National representation
Summer Olympics NH DNQ NH 0–0  – 
Billie Jean King Cup RR RR RR RR 5–3 63%
WTA 1000 tournaments
Qatar Open[a] A A 1R 1R 1R 0–3 0%
Dubai[a] A A Q1 A 1R 0–1 0%
Indian Wells Open A A A Q2 2R 1–1 50%
Miami Open A A A Q1 2R 1–0 100%
Madrid Open A A A 1R 0–1 0%
Italian Open A A A Q1 0–0  – 
Canadian Open A A A A 0–0  – 
Cincinnati Open A A A A 0–0  – 
Guadalajara Open A A NMS 0–0  – 
Wuhan Open NH A Q1 0–0  – 
China Open NH A Q2 3R 2–1 67%
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 0–1 2–3 2–4 33%
Career statistics
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 W–L Win%
Tournaments 0[b] 0 2 7 Career total: 9
Titles 0 0 0 0 Career total: 0
Finals 0 0 0 0 Career total: 0
Overall win–loss 0–0 0–0 0–2 5–7 5–9 36%
Year-end ranking 345 159 91 113 $1,304,112

WTA Tour finals

Singles: 1 (title)

Legend
Grand Slam (–)
WTA 1000 (–)
WTA 500 (–)
WTA 250 (1–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–0)
Clay (–)
Grass (–)
Finals by setting
Outdoor (1–0)
Indoor (–)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Oct 2024 Mérida Open, Mexico WTA 250 Hard Ann Li 6–2, 6–1

WTA Challenger finals

Singles: 1 (runner-up)

Result W–L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 Sep 2023 Ljubljana Open, Slovenia Clay Marina Bassols Ribera 0–6, 6–7(2–7)

ITF Circuit finals

Singles: 8 (4 titles, 4 runner-ups)

Legend
W40 tournaments (1–0)
W25 tournaments (1–1)
W15 tournaments (2–3)
Finals by surface
Hard (3–1)
Clay (1–3)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 Nov 2018 ITF Antalya, Turkey W15 Hard Daria Snigur 6–3, 6–7(3), 3–6
Loss 0–2 May 2019 ITF Antalya, Turkey W15 Clay Eléonora Molinaro 5–7, 4–6
Win 1–2 Jan 2020 ITF Antalya, Turkey W15 Clay Sapfo Sakellaridi 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
Loss 1–3 Mar 2020 ITF Antalya, Turkey W15 Clay Eléonora Molinaro 2–6, 2–6
Win 2–3 Jul 2022 ITF Monastir, Tunisia W15 Hard Priska Madelyn Nugroho 6–2, 4–6, 7–6(1)
Loss 2–4 Aug 2022 Verbier Open, Switzerland W25 Clay Matilde Paoletti 2–6, 6–3, 6–7(2)
Win 3–4 Oct 2022 ITF Sozopol, Bulgaria W25 Hard Darya Astakhova 7–5, 6–4
Win 4–4 Jan 2023 ITF Tallinn, Estonia W40 Hard (i) Viktória Kužmová 7–6(5), 3–6, 6–3

Best Grand Slam results details

Singles

Australian Open
2026 (qualifier)
Round Opponent Rank Score ZSR
Q1 Laura Samson No. 203 6–2, 6–2 No. 112
Q2 Julia Riera No. 180 6–3, 6–1
Q3 Anastasia Gasanova No. 212 6–3, 6–2
1R Ekaterina Alexandrova (11) No. 11 7–5, 4–6, 6–4
2R Anna Bondár No. 74 6–2, 6–4
3R Yulia Putintseva No. 94 3-6, 7–6(7–3), 3-6
French Open
2024 (qualifier)
Round Opponent Rank Score ZSR
Q1 Dejana Radanović No. 236 6–3, 6–2 No. 157
Q2 Aliaksandra Sasnovich (12) No. 104 6–7(3–7), 6–3, 6–4
Q3 Jana Fett (21) No. 126 7–6(7–5), 6–3
1R Emma Navarro (22) No. 24 2–6, 0–6 No. 163
2025
Round Opponent Rank Score ZSR
1R Elina Svitolina (13) No. 14 1–6, 1–6 No. 76
Wimbledon Championships
2025
Round Opponent Rank Score ZSR
1R Jaqueline Cristian No. 52 7–6(7–3), 6–3 No. 88
2R Wang Xinyu No. 32 7–5, 7–5
3R Ekaterina Alexandrova (18) No. 17 3–6, 6–7(1–7)
US Open
2025
Round Opponent Rank Score ZSR
1R Katie Volynets (Q) No. 109 6–3, 6–4 No. 81
2R Marta Kostyuk (27) No. 28 5–7, 7–6(7–5), 3–6

Personal life

Her family is from Arhavi district of Artvin.[44]

Notes

  1. ^ a b The first Premier 5 event of the year has switched back and forth between the Dubai Tennis Championships and the Qatar Ladies Open since 2009 until 2024. Dubai was classified as a Premier 5 event from 2009 to 2011 before being succeeded by Doha for the 2012–2014 period. In 2015, Dubai regained its Premier 5 status while Doha was demoted to Premier status. The Premier 5 tournaments were reclassified as WTA 1000 tournaments in 2021.
  2. ^ During the season, she did not play in the main draw of any WTA Tour-level tournaments. However, she played in the Billie Jean King Cup, which is not counted as a played tournament but matches count.

References

  1. ^ "Antalya, Billie Jean King Cup'a ev sahipliği yapıyor!". www.medyaege.com.tr (in Turkish). 12 April 2022.
  2. ^ Schulz, Mathias (13 June 2023). "With Serena on hand, Venus falls to Naef in 's-Hertogenbosch opener". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Bassols Ribera holds off Sonmez to claim Ljubljana 125 title". Women's Tennis Association. 17 September 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  4. ^ "2024 Doha; Tsurenko comes from a break down in both sets vs. wild card Sonmez".
  5. ^ Burak Demirer, Hüseyin (23 May 2024). "Milli tenisçi Zeynep Sönmez, Fransa Açık'ta ana tabloya yükseldi". Anadolu Ajansı (in Turkish). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  6. ^ Oddo, Chris (23 May 2024). "Niemeier: 'I found the joy again'". Roland Garros. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  7. ^ Garber, Greg (25 May 2024). "Qualifying at Roland Garros: The grueling journey that can change careers". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  8. ^ "2024 Berlin; Turkish qualifier Sonmez notches first WTA main-draw win in Berlin opener". Women's Tennis Association. 17 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Sabalenka, Vondrousova, Zheng matches postponed in Berlin due to rain". Women's Tennis Association. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  10. ^ "WTA Rankings Report – As of June 24, 2024". 28 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Sonmez outlasts Masarova to make Monastir second round". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Jasmin Open: Lys advances to quarter-finals". Tennis Majors. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  13. ^ "2024 Monastir; Sonmez wins in Monastir; first Turkish WTA quarterfinalist since 2017". 12 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Lys overcomes Sonmez in Monastir to make second WTA semifinal of 2024". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  15. ^ "2024 Tokyo; Qualifier Sonmez ousts Frech in Tokyo first round for second Top 30 win". WTATennis. 21 October 2024.
  16. ^ "2024 Merida; Sonmez fights back from a set down to oust Carle in Merida". 29 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Zeynep Sonmez de Turquía, se instala en cuartos de final" (in Spanish). 31 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Mérida Open: Sonmez moves into quarter-finals". Tennis Majors. November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  19. ^ "2024 Merida; Sonmez ousts No.1 seed Zarazua in Merida, makes first career WTA semifinal". WTATennis. 1 November 2024.
  20. ^ "Mérida Open: Sonmez books spot in final". Tennis Majors. 3 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  21. ^ "2024 Merida; Sonmez moves into first WTA singles final of career in Merida". WTATennis. 3 November 2025. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Sonmez storms to first WTA singles title of career in Merida". WTATennis. 3 November 2024.
  23. ^ "Zeynep Sonmez Rankings". WTATennis. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  24. ^ "Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sonmez wins 1st WTA title at Merida Open". Turkiye Today. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Year-end rankings wrap: A look at the new No.1, Top 10 shifts and much more". WTATennis. 18 November 2024.
  26. ^ "Rising Aussie 20-year-old Talia Gibson beats Zeynep Sonmez to secure second-round Australian Open berth". 7News. 13 January 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  27. ^ "Reigning Merida champion Sonmez knocks out No. 8 seed Sakkari". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  28. ^ "Mérida Open: Sonmez advances to quarter-finals". Tennis Majors. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  29. ^ "Mérida Open: Navarro ousts defending champion Sonmez". Tennis Majors. March 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  30. ^ "Sonmez routs former champion Bronzetti to reach Rabat second round". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  31. ^ "Wild card Sevastova defeats Sonmez to make Rabat quarterfinals". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  32. ^ "Roland-Garros: Svitolina moves into second round". Tennis Majors. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  33. ^ "Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sonmez becomes first Turkish woman to reach Wimbledon 2nd round". Turkiye Today. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  34. ^ "Sonmez reaches Wimbledon third round, makes history for Türkiye". Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  35. ^ "Zeynep Sonmez becomes first Turkish player to reach third round of a Grand Slam in Open Era". tennis.com. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  36. ^ "Wimbledon: Alexandrova through to last 16". Tennis Majors. 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  37. ^ "Turkish player Sonmez advances at US Open as Medvedev exits dramatically". Turkiye Today. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  38. ^ "Marta Kostyuk Advances to US Open Third Round". Mezha. 28 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  39. ^ Benson, Pat (28 November 2025). "Ons Jabeur and Stan Wawrinka Make Decisions on 2026 Season". Sports Illustrated.
  40. ^ "AO qualifying: Sonmez seals the deal to enter main draw". Australian Open. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  41. ^ "Zeynep Sönmez becomes first Turkish woman to reach Australian Open second round". Türkiye Today. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  42. ^ "Zeynep Sonmez makes history at Australian Open with third round breakthrough". 21 January 2026.
  43. ^ "Zeynep Sönmez". Australian Open. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  44. ^ "Arhavi'den bir Dünya Şampiyonu... Zeynep Sönmez..." arhavizyon.com. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
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