“Turkish Pride”: Sonmez makes history with upset win and act of kindness in Melbourne
Zeynep Sonmez became the first Turkish woman to win an Australian Open main-draw match on Sunday, upsetting 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Zeynep Sonmez, 2025 | © Imago / PsNewz
Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez made history on Sunday at the Australian Open, pulling off the biggest win of her career with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 upset over the No. 11 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The victory marks the first time a Turkish woman has ever reached the second round in Melbourne, sparking emotional scenes at the 1573 Arena as Turkish flags waved throughout the match. Sonmez, who did not drop a single set during her three qualifying matches, showed remarkable resilience to overcome the world number 11 in a high-stakes battle that lasted over two and a half hours.
Beyond her clinical performance on court, Sonmez won the hearts of the Melbourne crowd with a moment of pure sportsmanship and compassion. Late in the second set, a ball girl fainted in the intense heat near the umpire’s chair. Sonmez was the first to react, rushing across the court to assist the girl and physically guiding her to a seat in the shade before tournament medics arrived.
The ball kid’s scene
Despite the emotional interruption, Sonmez remained composed, recovering from a 0-3 deficit in the deciding set to secure her second career top-20 victory and her first main-draw win at the Australian Open. As she left the court to a standing ovation, the 23-year-old solidified her status as a rising star and a source of immense national pride.
Before this week, the 23-year-old’s most notable accomplishments included becoming only the second Turkish woman to win a WTA singles title (Mérida 2024) and the first to reach the third round of a Grand Slam in the Open Era (Wimbledon 2025).
Her run to the second round in Melbourne was fueled by a flawless qualifying campaign where she did not drop a single set, conceding only 15 games across three matches. She began with a clinical 6-2, 6-2 victory over Czech teenager Laura Samsonova, followed by a 6-4, 6-3 win against the experienced Polona Hercog.
She secured her main-draw spot by dismantling Anastasia Gasanova 6-3, 6-2 in the final round. The Turkish has reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 in October 2025, but this is certainly not the end of the road.
