Zeynep Sonmez splits with Turkish Airlines after breakthrough season

After making history for Turkiye on court, Zeynep Sonmez is now flying solo.

Sonmez, Turkiye’s No. 1 singles player, shared a message on social media Friday announcing the end of her partnership with Turkish Airlines, the country’s national flag carrier.

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“Following sponsorship discussions regarding the 2026 season, the sponsorship relationship with Turkish Airlines will not continue,” Sonmez wrote.

“I was honored to represent Turkey's national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, at the opening tournaments of 2026, including the Australian Open Grand Slam, the Mubadala Abu Dhabi and the Qatar Open event. I carried this responsibility with the same seriousness and respect at all times, both on and off the court.

“I would like to sincerely thank Turkish Airlines for the trust they placed in me and for their support throughout our journey together. I also extend my gratitude to all Turkish Airlines employees, both in the air and on the ground, for their professionalism and continued support.”

The timing has raised eyebrows, coming on the heels of a breakthrough 2025 season.

The 23-year-old became the first player representing Turkiye to reach the third round of a Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2025—a feat she matched at this year’s Australian Open as a qualifier.

Read More: Zeynep Sonmez, "playing together" with unreal AO atmosphere, equals her historic major run

She also played a starring role in Turkiye’s upset win over Germany in its first-ever Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs appearance.

Sonmez broke into the Top 70 last year, reaching a career-high No. 69 in October 2025. Currently, no other Turkish player—male or female—is ranked inside the Top 300 in the WTA or ATP rankings.

The news also comes less than a week after Turkish Airlines announced another major move in tennis, unveiling Zheng Qinwen as a new global brand ambassador on Feb. 6.

Already the airline that flies to more countries than any other in the world, Turkish Airlines said the partnership is part of a broader strategy to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Turkish Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Ahmet Olmuştur stated: “As we continue to strengthen our presence across the Asia-Pacific region, this partnership reflects our commitment to connecting the region with the world while supporting excellence in sport and cultural exchange.”

The 23-year-old from China is one of the highest-earning women in sports. She adds the airline to a sponsorship portfolio that includes Nike, Dior, Rolex and Audi, among others. According to Forbes, she earned an estimated $21 million in endorsements alone in 2025.

She was sidelined by an elbow injury that required arthroscopic surgery, causing her to miss the 2025 US Open and the 2026 Australian Open. The setback has not slowed brands’ interest in her global reach.

Zheng recently returned to action in Doha—only her second tournament since last year’s Wimbledon—reaching the round of 16 before falling to Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina.

Read More: Aryna Sabalenka named first tennis ambassador for Emirates Airlines

Major airlines continue to eye tennis for lucrative partnerships. In January 2026, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was named the first-ever tennis ambassador for Emirates Airline, with the partnership announced ahead of the 2026 Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic became a global brand ambassador for Qatar Airways in 2024, while Emma Raducanu partnered with British Airways after her US Open win in 2021.