Melbourne, Jan 23 — Yulia Putintseva embraced the role of antagonist at the Australian Open on Friday, provoking a chorus of boos from Turkish supporters after securing a 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3 win over qualifier Zeynep Sonmez in their third-round clash.
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The atmosphere at Kia Arena was dominated by Turkish fans, with red flags filling the stands as supporters rallied behind Sonmez, the world number 112, who was aiming to become the first Turkish player of the Open Era to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam.
Sonmez, who stunned 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the opening round, appeared close to defeat when she trailed 3-1 in the second set. However, she mounted a spirited comeback, forcing a tiebreak and levelling the match to the delight of her vocal supporters.
Putintseva stayed composed to take the deciding set, but it was her behaviour after the final point that drew the most attention. As cheers for Sonmez echoed around the arena, the Kazakh player cupped her ear toward the crowd and blew kisses, triggering loud jeers from Turkish fans.
Following the handshake at the net, Putintseva continued to play to the crowd by dancing near her chair, prompting sustained booing throughout her on-court interview.
“It was honestly a very intense atmosphere,” Putintseva said. “Look at them — they’re extremely passionate. I actually enjoy this kind of battle, especially when it’s against me.”
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She also expressed appreciation for the small group of supporters from Kazakhstan, adding that quality of support mattered more than quantity.
The scene evoked memories of Danielle Collins at the same venue last year, when she responded to boos after defeating home favourite Destanee Aiava by blowing kisses to the crowd and joking about funding a luxury holiday.
Putintseva later told reporters she felt some Turkish fans crossed the line by shouting between serves in an attempt to disrupt her rhythm.
“There’s not much I can do,” she said. “Some people understand tennis etiquette, and unfortunately some don’t. I’m just glad I stayed calm — last year’s version of me might have reacted very differently.”
Despite her defeat, Sonmez received a warm ovation as she left the court, having endeared herself to fans not only through her performances but also her conduct. She recently gained widespread attention on social media after rushing to assist a ball girl who collapsed during her first-round match in extreme heat.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
-TheStar