AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 21, 2026

Zeynep Sonmez

Press Conference

Z. SONMEZ/A. Bondar

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Zeynep, why don't you talk to us about how you were feeling on court today?

ZEYNEP SONMEZ: In the beginning I was very nervous. I played against someone I really, really love. I love Anna, and it was good to share the court with her, but in the beginning the crowd was very, like, loud. I really appreciated there were many Turkish people, and I felt like I was at home.

In the beginning I was a bit nervous, and then I think I got used to it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Can you talk a bit more about the atmosphere? It was kind of crazy, like you were in Istanbul. How much did it help you?

ZEYNEP SONMEZ: I mean, I felt like I was at home. Basically I was feeling the energy. It was really unreal. I really, really appreciate it. I felt very good on the court. I really felt the support, and I felt like we were all playing together, actually.

It was very good. It was a very, very good, like, atmosphere I think.

Q. Have you experienced this before in foreign countries? I know there's a big Turkish diaspora. And were you aware that there were going to be lots of people here in the same way that the Serbs come out for Novak and Greeks for Stefanos? And we saw the craziness with Eala the other day.

ZEYNEP SONMEZ: In Wimbledon when I was playing third round, it was also -- like, it was similar to this, but I think today was, like, the -- I mean, it was a bit like -- I felt like I never experienced something like this.

Like, in Wimbledon also there were many people, and my first round here, too, there were many people. But today was, like, I have never experienced something like this.

I felt very good on the court.

Q. Today was your fifth match at the AO, because you came through qualifying. I think you are the first qualifier through to the third round. How much do you value the experience of last week and being so comfortable here?

ZEYNEP SONMEZ: I think it definitely helped me to play three matches in quallies, because I got used to courts, I got used to, like, weather and everything. As I played, I started to feel better on the court with my shots and everything.

So I think it helped me to play quallies, but of course, you know, it was good that we had one day rest between the matches, like, when I started playing main draw.

I don't feel like tired. I feel like I'm getting used to it more and more, I think.

Q. Just talk about how the crowd helps. I feel like players can channel crowd energy differently. Does it keep making you more focused? Does it make you more positive? What do you feel like are some of the effects of that?

ZEYNEP SONMEZ: At first I couldn't even hear my own thoughts. It was very, very loud. Then I said, you know, Zeynep, just focus, just you and the ball and, like, play your game and just focus on the court.

You know, like, I know that they were there to support me, and I really appreciate it, again. They did help me a lot. Like, especially in the important points, I always felt the support.

I always feel the support even back home, too. I know they're supporting me. I know they're watching me. It was, like, 3:00 a.m. in the morning, and I know that there were many people who just woke up to watch me.

I really appreciate it. They really did help me in the match, too, because it was -- I mean, the score was, like, 6-2, 6-4, but it was a tight match. So I'm grateful that they were there.

Q. You are coming from a country that has not had traditionally a ton of female tennis players or any tennis players at this level. Do you feel like you are something of a pioneer, and what has that experience been like for you to sort of enter into frontiers that other people from your country haven't been before?

ZEYNEP SONMEZ: Definitely it's a new experience for me, too. Like, I'm experiencing Grand Slams, main draws. Like, I played my first main draw, like, two years ago in Roland Garros, but my direct entrance to, like, a main draw was last year here. Last year -- yeah, last year Australian Open. So everything is kind of new for me, too.

We had some good players, like we had Çagla. We had Marsel. We had Cem Ilkel. We had Altug Çelikbilek. We had some good players.

I think I grew up watching them, too, and I really appreciate, like, they support me, too, in my matches. They're always trying to, like, help me with their experiences. I want to do better.

You know, I know that it's a new thing in Turkey, but I don't want to stop here. I want to keep going. I want to do better things.

Q. Continuing with the same topic of the last question, we're seeing here in Australia different young players from countries that are not traditional, like Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines. How do you see this new generation of women's players, and what do you think that this new -- not new nations, but what this can bring to the tennis?

ZEYNEP SONMEZ: I think it's good, because we see countries -- there are some countries that are very good at tennis. You know, they're, like, tennis countries. We are not one of them, for example.

I really think that it's a good thing, because then there are more players, more surprises. You know, I think it's great.

I saw Alex, like, was playing few days ago, and the crowd was crazy, too. I think it's nice, you know. I really enjoy watching those matches, too.

Q. One last question about the countries. It's something Iga has talked about where she said, I never thought I could -- I never even dreamed I could win a Grand Slam, because no one from my country has done that. Do you have that same experience, like that you growing up, being at the top of the top is a really hard thing to believe?

ZEYNEP SONMEZ: I mean, I think everyone is dreaming of winning a Grand Slam as a young girl or young boy, so it is one of my dreams, too.

But I'm not focusing, like, specifically on that dream. You know, I'm just focusing on getting better every day. I really want to enjoy being on the court, because I know I feel and I play better when I enjoy being on the court.

So my focus is more there. I'm not focusing so much on the results. Of course, I want to win. To be honest, my biggest dream is to win a Grand Slam, but I'm not focussing on that so much.

I'm focussing on enjoy being on the court, enjoying playing matches, enjoying being in the Grand Slams, you know? More like on that part.

Q. Five matches in, are you tired?

ZEYNEP SONMEZ: Right now I am tired, because I just finished, but no, I'm not tired overall.