Wimbledon 2026: Zeynep Sonmez sports watermelon shock absorber for Palestine
Tennis player Zeynep Sonmez has said she was told by Wimbledon organisers that wearing a Palestine pin was prohibited, leading her to display solidarity with Palestinians through her racket.
The Turkish No 1 told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that she "used to wear a pin", but that "tournaments no longer allow me to wear it".
She added that her team 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," she said.
The 24-year-old ended up fastening a watermelon-shaped vibration dampener to her racket: "[T]hey can't object to that."
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The watermelon has been used as a symbol for Palestinian resistance since the 1967 war, when Israeli authorities banned public displays of Palestinian flags in occupied Palestinian lands.
In response, Palestinians started bringing slices of watermelon - which shares the colours of the national flag - to protests and painted and displayed signs of the fruit.
It has been used as a symbol of solidarity since.
'Double standards'
Hundreds of social media users showered praise on Sonmez for her stance while criticising Wimbledon organisers for "double standards" on Ukraine and Palestine.
Regarding the decision about Sonmez, tournament director Jamie Baker said: "We don't allow any kind of political messaging from players on court ... That has been consistent across the rules for a long time."
However, earlier in the week, Ukrainian player Daria Snigur was seen competing while wearing a pin with the Ukrainian flag.
When asked why Sonmez was not allowed to display a Palestine pin while Snigur could wear a Ukraine symbol, Baker insisted that the "Ukrainian situation" was "quite unique".
"[W]e were following our government guidance, and the international response ... so that was an individual situation," he continued.
One user posted on X: "Ukraine flag allowed but not Palestine flag. Bitterly disappointed that even Wimbledon stooped to this level of hypocrisy."
Others focused on Sonmez's message. "It's a small act but the ingenuity and undeterred commitment to somehow doing the display of solidarity is so beautiful," said one user.
Another wrote: "Huge respect to Zeynep Sonmez for not being silenced on the genocide Israel is committing."
Middle East Eye has contacted the All England Lawn Tennis Club and Sonmez for comment.
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