Zeynep Sönmez was eliminated from Wimbledon in doubles

Zeynep Sönmez's Wimbledon 2026 adventure officially ended with the defeat in the doubles competition. The star name of Turkish tennis said goodbye to the tournament, losing his last chance at the All England Club. Sönmez, who directed his hopes to the doubles category immediately after the elimination in singles, tried to make his presence felt on the court, but could not get the result he wanted.

The defeat in the last match effectively ended not only Sönmez's personal success, but also Türkiye's Wimbledon representation this year. Falling behind the net in both singles and doubles was a harsh reminder of the competitive nature of Grand Slam tournaments. Despite trying to maintain his place in the world rankings and collect points in every set he played on the grass courts in London, Sönmez had to close the tournament without a point.

This table once again revealed what a difficult journey it was for Turkish tennis to establish its presence in the biggest tournaments. Due to the nature of grass courts, this tournament has always been the biggest test for tennis players. Low ball bounces and quick points push players' reflexes and adaptability to their limits.

Sönmez's elimination is not just an individual failure but also a cruel reflection of the physical and tactical demands at the top tier of the WTA tour. This match proved once again that gaining experience, especially on grass, requires a very different dynamic than the work done on the training field. Turkish tennis' struggle to maintain continuity on this difficult ground reveals how much work must be done above world standards.

Failure in the doubles category is not simply a reflection of performance in the singles; This discipline requires a completely different intelligence and synchronization on the court. Partner compatibility, dominance in front of the net and accuracy in short-term shots are the main factors that determine the fate of the match in doubles. The performance of Sönmez and his partner in this tournament showed that the loss of concentration, especially at critical break points, is unforgivable at the professional level.

The lack of strategic variations to counter the opponents' aggressive net play led to loss of control at key moments of the match and ultimately an early exit from the tournament. Unfortunately, the hope of recovery and morale in the doubles group after the disappointment in singles did not come true for Sönmez and his partner. Despite the physical and mental effort shown on the court, tactical discipline and mistakes made at critical moments of the game closed the doors of a comeback.

This tournament structure clearly demonstrated the necessity of professional players to take both their individual talents and their harmony in team play to the highest level at the same time. While the silence of Sönmez's racket created a quiet atmosphere in the Turkish camp, a picture emerged in which the resistance shown throughout the tournament was overshadowed by the pain of not being able to leave the field with a victory. For Sönmez, who said goodbye, all eyes are now on the upcoming tournaments and the rest of the season.

Although the Wimbledon 2026 experience is recorded as an important step in the young player's career and an instructive tournament, it is time to improve morale and return to training. With the tactical and mental lessons learned from these matches, Sönmez will aim to make a more aggressive and prepared return in the remainder of the 2026 season, especially in the hard ground season. While the Turkish tennis community maintains its belief in Sönmez's potential after these eliminations, they expect him to use this failure as a springboard.

Sönmez's performance at Wimbledon is not only an individual story, but also a part of Turkish tennis' struggle to find its place in the international arena. Sönmez, one of the players with the highest WTA ranking in the country's tennis history, gave important clues about the future of both her career and Turkish tennis with her performance in this tournament. While the difficulty of facing Grand Slam-level opponents accelerated the young player's development, it also clearly revealed his shortcomings.

This elimination can be considered a turning point in Sönmez's career. It showed that the elements such as physical endurance, mental resilience and tactical depth required to survive in Grand Slam tournaments have not yet fully matured. However, this difficult process will also enable Sönmez to be better equipped for the coming seasons.

The Turkish tennis community hopes that, with the lessons learned from this experience, the necessary steps will be taken to ensure that young talents are seen more frequently in the international arena. After the loss in doubles, Sönmez's compatibility with his partner also became a matter of discussion. Success in the doubles category on the WTA tour depends not only on individual talent but also on the synchronization of the two players.

Sönmez's lack of communication and coordination with his partner became evident, especially at critical moments in front of the net. This situation revealed the young player's weak points in both individual and team play and emphasized the need to be more careful in choosing partners for future matches. Sönmez's rival analysis should also be mentioned.

Wimbledon's grass field requires different strategies depending on the playing style of the players. It was seen that Sönmez's opponents, especially his doubles partners, tended to dominate the game with hard serves and fast hits. This situation showed that Sönmez's defensive and receiving skills were inadequate.

In future tournaments, more specific preparations will need to be made to address these weak points. For Sönmez, who said goodbye, all eyes are now on the upcoming tournaments and the rest of the season. Although the Wimbledon 2026 experience is recorded as an important step in the young player's career and an instructive tournament, it is time to improve morale and return to training.

With the tactical and mental lessons learned from these matches, Sönmez will aim to make a more aggressive and prepared return in the remainder of the 2026 season, especially in the hard ground season. While the Turkish tennis community maintains its belief in Sönmez's potential after these eliminations, they expect him to use this failure as a springboard. Read at Hürriyet Spor