Zeynep Sonmez, a Turkish tennis player, has alleged that Wimbledon officials prohibited her from wearing a Palestine brooch during her match, prompting her to find a creative loophole. The All England Club enforces a strict all-white dress code, with fines of up to £15,700 per infringement for breaches. Sonmez's request to wear the brooch was denied, despite Wimbledon having made a special allowance for the Ukrainian flag in 2022 following the Russian invasion.
Loophole Found in Vibration Dampener
Sonmez, who lost in the second round to Claire Liu in straight sets, revealed she circumvented the ban by using a watermelon-shaped vibration dampener on her racket. The watermelon is a symbol associated with Palestine, as it shares the colors of the Palestinian flag: red, green, white, and black. It is widely regarded as a symbol of opposition against Israeli oppression and occupation.
"I used to wear a pin. Tournaments no longer allow me to wear it," Sonmez told Turkish outlet AA. "We had a discussion with the organisers because the Ukrainian flag is allowed but the Palestinian is not. They ultimately told us they definitely would not allow it. So, I can't wear the pin. I can use the vibration dampener, and they can't object to that. That's why I put the watermelon symbol on my racket."
Uncertainty Over Ban Source
Sonmez did not clarify whether the ban on the brooch came from the All England Club, the WTA Tour, or the ITF. The All England Club has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded. Sonmez also brought handwritten notes to consult between games, explaining, "Because I can feel stressed or nervous during a match, I write down the things I need to pay attention to before the match so I can read them at those moments. I usually write notes about my opponent or reminders to stay calm mentally and keep my mind clear."
Match Performance
Reflecting on her performance, Sonmez said, "I didn't play very well. I couldn't play according to the game plan I wanted. It wasn't a day when I played good tennis or felt the ball well." The incident highlights ongoing tensions around political expression at sporting events, with Wimbledon's dress code facing scrutiny for its selective allowances.
