First Turkish player to crack the WTA Top 50

Zeynep Sonmez

Right-handed with a two-handed backhand, the 2024 Merida Open champion is the highest-ranked Turkish player in WTA rankings history — and only the second from her country to win a tour-level singles title.

Career-High Rank

No. 48

13 JUL 2026

Current Rank

No. 79

20 APR 2026

Age

B. 30 APR 2002

WTA Titles

ISTANBUL, TUR

Career Trajectory

2024 First WTA title at the Merida Open in Mexico, beating Ann Li 6-2, 6-1 in the final — only the second Turkish player ever to win a WTA singles title, and the first since 2016. Her year-end ranking jumped from No. 159 to No. 92.
2025 Reached the third round of Wimbledon — the first player from Türkiye to reach a Grand Slam singles third round in the Open Era.
2026 Third round at the Australian Open, having become the first Turkish woman to win a main-draw match at the tournament in the Open Era.
2026 First career top-10 win: ranked No. 79 and coming through qualifying, she beat world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2 in Stuttgart in April — the first top-10 win by a Turkish player.
2026 Became the first Turkish player inside the WTA Top 50, reaching a career-high No. 48 on 13 July.

Surface Split

HARD

CLAY

Historic Slam 3R came on grass (Wimbledon 2025) First WTA title on hard (Merida 2024) First top-10 win on clay (Stuttgart 2026)

Quick Facts

Birthplace

Istanbul, Türkiye

National First

1st Turkish player in WTA Top 50

Height

170 cm (5'7")

Plays

Right-handed

Backhand

Two-handed

Best Slam

3R — Wimbledon 2025, Australian Open 2026

The Breakthrough

Sonmez's story loops back on itself. As a teenager she worked as a ballgirl at the WTA event in Istanbul, and was on hand in 2016 when Cagla Buyukakcay became the first Turkish player to win a WTA singles title. Eight years later, in Merida, Mexico, Sonmez became the second — routing Ann Li 6-2, 6-1 for her first tour title in October 2024 and vaulting into the top 100 for the first time.

"This win is the biggest of my career, so I'm very happy." — After beating world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, Stuttgart 2026 (beIN Sports)

The week that put her on this tracker came in April 2026. Ranked No. 79 and forced through qualifying in Stuttgart, she dismantled world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2 in 75 minutes — the first top-10 win by any Turkish player in WTA rankings history. It capped a stretch of national firsts: a Grand Slam third round at Wimbledon 2025, another at the 2026 Australian Open, and by July, a career-high No. 48 that made her the first Turkish player ever ranked inside the world's top 50.

In Her Own Words

"It was a pleasure sharing the court with Jasmine; she's a fantastic player."

ON BEATING JASMINE PAOLINI, STUTTGART 2026 · BEINSPORTS.COM

"We had a clear plan, and I executed it perfectly."

ON HER STUTTGART UPSET, APRIL 2026 · DAILY SABAH

"Never lose your hope."

ON HER MATCH PHILOSOPHY · WTATENNIS.COM

Playing Style

Two-handed backhand Results on all three surfaces Battle-tested qualifier Noted for sportsmanship

Sources: Wikipedia (Zeynep Sönmez) · WTA Tour player profile · WTATennis.com, "Sonmez wins Merida for first WTA singles title of career" · WTATennis.com, "Zeynep Sonmez's journey from ballgirl to Turkish tennis standout" · Tennis.com, "Zeynep Sonmez becomes highest-ranked Turkish player in WTA rankings history" · beIN Sports, "'This win is the biggest of my career' — Sonmez stuns Paolini in Stuttgart" · Daily Sabah, "Sönmez stuns world No. 8 Paolini in career-defining Stuttgart win" · Türkiye Today, "Zeynep Sonmez becomes first Turkish tennis player to enter WTA top 50".
Compiled from public match reporting and official tour data — no private or unpublished sources used.