Zeynep Sonmez, a Turkish tennis player competing at Wimbledon, circumvented the tournament's strict all-white clothing rule by using a watermelon-shaped vibration dampener on her racket. The device, which attaches to racquet strings to reduce vibration, was not prohibited by officials, unlike the Palestine brooch she had previously worn.
Ban on Palestine Brooch Sparks Protest
The All England Club enforces a rigid all-white dress code, with fines of up to £15,700 per infringement. Sonmez's request to wear a Palestine brooch was denied, despite Wimbledon allowing Ukrainian flags in 2022 after the Russian invasion. Sonmez criticized this double standard, stating, "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."
Watermelon Symbol as Resistance
The watermelon, which shares the colors of the Palestinian flag (red, green, white, and black) and is cultivated in Palestine, has become a symbol of resistance against Israeli oppression. Sonmez explained, "I can use the vibration dampener, and they can't object to that. That's why I put the watermelon symbol on my racket." She did not specify whether the ban on the brooch came from Wimbledon, the WTA Tour, or the ITF.
Match Performance and Coping Strategies
Sonmez, 24, was eliminated in the second round by Claire Liu in straight sets. To manage stress during matches, she writes handwritten notes to read between games. "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," she said. "I usually write notes about my opponent or reminders to stay calm mentally and keep my mind clear." She added, "I didn't play very well. I couldn't play according to the game plan I wanted."
The All England Club has been reached for comment but has not yet responded.
