Zeynep Sönmez's Palestine message at Wimbledon: She chose this path after being denied permission for a brooch

Zeynep Sönmez drew attention at the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament with the watermelon-patterned vibration dampener she used while taking the court. The national athlete chose this alternative method after tournament officials did not allow the wearing of brooches symbolizing support for Palestine.

Sönmez, who was defeated by her American opponent Claire Liu 7-5 and 6-3 in the second round of Wimbledon, bid farewell to the tournament's singles category. Speaking to members of the press after the match, the national tennis player expressed that she was not satisfied with her performance on the court. "I didn't play very well. I couldn't execute the match according to the game plan I wanted. Today wasn't a day where I felt the ball well," she assessed.

Sönmez stated that her opponent Claire Liu played better than she did, adding that she made unforced errors and, at times, could not remain sufficiently loyal to her game plan. Stating that they are not considering radical changes for upcoming tournaments, the successful athlete said they would focus on improving her weaknesses and further advancing her strengths.

"UKRAINE IS ALLOWED, PALESTINE IS NOT"

Zeynep Sönmez explained why she made such a choice regarding the watermelon-motif vibration dampener she used while taking the court:

"I used to wear a brooch. The tournaments no longer allow me to wear it. We had a small discussion with the officials about this issue because the Ukrainian flag is allowed but Palestine is not, but as a result of our conversations, they said they absolutely would not allow it. That's why I can't wear a brooch. I can attach the vibration dampener; they can't say anything about that. So, I attach that watermelon symbol to my racket."

Sönmez, who reviewed her notes during breaks in the match, was also asked about the content of these notes and their contribution to her during the match. The national tennis player stated that they analyze their opponents' strengths and weaknesses before matches, saying, "Because I can get stressed or tense during a match, I write down the things I need to pay attention to before the match so I can read them in those moments. I usually write notes related to my opponent or about staying calm mentally and keeping my consciousness clear."

Emphasizing that the support messages from Turkey mean a great deal to her, Zeynep Sönmez said, "I never felt alone in this tournament today. I felt on the court as if we were playing all together, as if we were all together. This is, of course, very valuable to me. That's why I thank everyone very much."

Having ended her singles adventure at Wimbledon, Sönmez will continue her journey in the doubles category.

News Source: 12punto