How Did Zeynep Sonmez Make History for Turkey at Wimbledon 2025?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Zeynep Sonmez is a trailblazer for Turkish tennis.
- First Turkish player to reach the third round at a Grand Slam.
- Defeated Xinyu Wang in a tight match.
- Career-high ranking of No. 76 in singles.
- Participated in multiple Grand Slam tournaments.
London, July 3 (NationPress) Zeynep Sonmez, currently ranked No. 88 in the world, has made a significant mark in Turkish tennis history at Wimbledon 2025. On Thursday, she advanced to the third round of the ladies' singles competition at the prestigious All-England Club.
She has become the first Turkish player to reach the third round in singles at a Grand Slam during the Open Era.
The 23-year-old, who hails from Istanbul, achieved this milestone by defeating China's Xinyu Wang, the 32nd ranked player globally, in a tightly contested match, finishing with scores of 7-5 and 7-5.
Sonmez, who represents Turkey in the Bille Jean King Cup, has attained her highest singles ranking of No. 76 and No. 584 in doubles by the WTA, both achieved in 2025.
She made her Grand Slam debut at the French Open in 2024 and has participated in the US Open 2024, Australian Open 2025, and French Open 2026, where she faced first-round exits.
In other news, Cristina Bucsa of Spain stunned No. 22 seed and 2024 semifinalist Donna Vekic in just 70 minutes, winning 6-1 and 6-3 to advance to the third round for the first time. She will compete against lucky loser Solana Sierra for a chance to make her Grand Slam fourth-round debut.
Bucsa, who made her Wimbledon debut in 2019, faced a unique challenge arriving at the venue without shoes, but she successfully arranged her match attire and went on to secure two victories.
Surprisingly, Bucsa stands out in 2025 as a professional athlete who has largely avoided social media. Although she uses Facebook to coordinate doubles matches, she has no interest in platforms like Instagram or TikTok.