‘Lucky to have her in my life’: Sönmez opens up on friendship with Alex Eala
HONG KONG — Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sönmez has received plenty of support from Filipino fans during her campaign in the 2026 Hong Kong Tennis Open, a WTA 250 tournament.
World no. 67 Sönmez defeated Diana Yastremska in the first round, 6-4, 6-2. Afterward, she was approached by Filipino fans seeking photos and autographs, which the Turkish star obliged for 20 minutes at courtside.
“I played good tennis. I think I was sticking to our plan, and I was playing very well. So, I’m happy about it,” said Sönmez.
Filipino fans have resonated with the 24-year-old Sönmez, who is a good friend of Alex Eala.
“We have some successful athletes, and I think we all have, a little bit similar, that fighting spirit. I think maybe it comes from our country, and it also comes from, like, my family,” Sönmez said.
Their friendship started some three or four years ago after playing against each other, she recalled.
“After the match, we talked a little bit, and then we said, let’s play doubles together, and then we had dinner with, like, all of us together, my team and her team, and then we got close with time,” Sönmez said.
“We talk about everything. We talk about the things that we struggle about, the things that are making us happy, or, you know, there are small things that happen in our lives, and I think we always support each other with everything we do, which is something I’m very grateful for,” she added.
“She’s a great athlete, of course, but beyond that, she’s a wonderful person, and I feel so lucky to have her in my life.”
According to Sönmez, she and Eala have discussed the upcoming WTA events in the Philippines. The country is hosting a WTA 125 in January 2027, and a WTA 250 in November 2027.
“We talked about it, actually. I mean, I would love to come, of course… I will definitely try to come,” she said.
In the meantime, Sönmez will look to keep her run going in Hong Kong in the Round of 16 scheduled tomorrow with Filipino fans behind her.
She plays the winner between Leylah Fernandez and Sofia Kenin.