Melbourne, Australia – Turkish national tennis player Zeynep Sönmez has successfully navigated the qualifiers to secure her spot in the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open. This marks another significant milestone for the 23-year-old rising star as she prepares to compete in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
Sönmez, currently ranked 112th in the WTA world rankings, demonstrated resilience and skill during the qualifying rounds held in Melbourne. Her final qualifying match saw her face off against Gasanova, ranked 212th. In a commanding performance lasting 1 hour and 29 minutes, Sönmez clinched a straight-sets victory (6-3, 6-2), earning her a coveted place in the main draw.
A High-Profile First-Round Draw
The draw for the main event has set up a formidable challenge for Sönmez in the opening round. She is scheduled to face the 11th seed, Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia, on January 18th. The match is slated to begin at 04:30 Turkish time (GMT+3).
This pairing holds particular significance as Sönmez and Alexandrova have a history in major tournaments. In 2025, the two athletes met during the third round of Wimbledon, where Alexandrova ultimately defeated Sönmez, ending her run at the prestigious grass-court Grand Slam.
Reflecting on Previous Grand Slam Experiences
While qualifying for the Australian Open main draw is a significant achievement, Sönmez will be looking to improve upon her recent Grand Slam performances. Following her Wimbledon appearance in 2025, she also participated in the US Open later that year. In New York, she reached the second round before being eliminated by Ukrainian opponent Marta Kostyuk.
The Australian Open, being the first of the four major Grand Slam tournaments, sets the tone for the tennis season. Sönmez's ability to consistently qualify for these top-tier events underscores her growing stature in international women's tennis.
The Journey of Zeynep Sönmez: From Istanbul to the World Stage
Born on April 30, 2002, in Istanbul, Zeynep Sönmez hails from a family with roots in Artvin. Her entry into the world of professional tennis began serendipitously during a summer camp at the age of six or seven. Reflecting on her early days in an interview with BBC Turkish, Sönmez recalled being enrolled in basketball and swimming but finding her true calling elsewhere.
"My family enrolled me in summer school for basketball and swimming. But I didn’t like basketball," Sönmez explained. "I would sneak away and go play tennis with the bigger rackets."
It was during this summer program that her talent was spotted by a coach, setting her on the path toward national representation and international competition. Her dedication has seen her become one of Turkey's most prominent female athletes in the sport.
Pioneering Turkish Women in Tennis
Zeynep Sönmez is not the first Turkish woman to achieve notable success on the global tennis stage, but her accomplishments continue to build upon a proud legacy. She follows in the footsteps of pioneers like İpek Şenoğlu, who was the first Turkish woman to represent the country in the main draw of Wimbledon.
Furthermore, Çağla Büyükakçay made history in 2016 by winning the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup, becoming the first Turkish racquet to lift a WTA singles title. Sönmez’s current success places her firmly within this lineage of talented Turkish athletes challenging the established order in professional tennis.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season Opener
The first-round matches of the 2026 Australian Open are set to commence on Sunday, January 18th. For Sönmez, the encounter with Alexandrova presents a chance for redemption after their 2025 Wimbledon clash, and a crucial opportunity to secure valuable ranking points early in the season.
Turkish tennis fans will undoubtedly be closely following the match, hoping that Sönmez can translate her qualifying form into a major upset against the seeded player. Her progress in Melbourne will be keenly watched as a barometer for her ambitions in the 2026 season, aiming to build on her career-best performances, which include reaching the third round at Wimbledon in 2025.
The journey of Zeynep Sönmez encapsulates the dedication required to succeed in the highly competitive world of professional tennis, making her one of the most exciting figures to watch in the early stages of the 2026 Grand Slam calendar.
