Zeynep Sonmez has announced the end of her sponsorship with Turkish Airlines. The Turkiye No. 1 singles player posted on social media Friday that negotiations over the 2026 season had concluded without a renewal.

“Following sponsorship discussions regarding the 2026 season, the sponsorship relationship with Turkish Airlines will not continue,” Sonmez wrote.

She added a statement of thanks linking her work with the carrier to the opening events of 2026. “I was honored to represent Turkey’s national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, at the opening tournaments of 2026, including the Australian Open Grand Slam, the Mubadala Abu Dhabi and the Qatar Open event. I carried this responsibility with the same seriousness and respect at all times, both on and off the court.

“I would like to sincerely thank Turkish Airlines for the trust they placed in me and for their support throughout our journey together. I also extend my gratitude to all Turkish Airlines employees, both in the air and on the ground, for their professionalism and continued support.”

The decision has attracted attention coming after Sonmez’s breakthrough results in 2025. The 23-year-old became the first player representing Turkiye to reach the third round of a Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2025, a milestone she matched at this year’s Australian Open as a qualifier. She was also instrumental in Turkiye’s upset win over Germany in its first-ever Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs appearance.

Sonmez entered the Top 70 last year, reaching a career-high No. 69 in October 2025. At present, no other Turkish player — male or female — is ranked inside the Top 300 of the WTA or ATP listings.

The announcement follows Turkish Airlines’ unveiling of Zheng Qinwen as a global brand ambassador on Feb. 7. The airline, which says it flies to more countries than any other, described the move as part of a strategy to expand in the Asia-Pacific region. Turkish Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Ahmet Olmuştur stated : “As we continue to strengthen our presence across the Asia-Pacific region, this partnership reflects our commitment to connecting the region with the world while supporting excellence in sport and cultural exchange.”

The draft also notes Zheng’s commercial profile and recent return from elbow surgery, and the wider trend of major carriers naming high-profile tennis ambassadors in 2026.

Caroline Garcia says she and her husband turned down a $270,000 sponsorship proposal from an unnamed gambling company for their Tennis Insider Club podcast, citing concerns about the harm the betting industry can cause to players and fans.

Garcia and Borja Duran launched the podcast last year. The programme has become a place for top players and other figures in the sport to speak candidly about careers and life on tour. In a lengthy post on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, Garcia said the couple decided to refuse the deal because the gambling industry has “become one of the biggest sources of pressure, abuse, and hate in modern sport.”

Her post referenced wider reporting about the problem, including a 2024 Reuters report that alleged disgruntled bettors were responsible for nearly half of the abusive comments tennis players receive on social media. Governing bodies in the sport have responded by seeking ways to address the abuse.

Garcia, a 31-year-old who retired from the tour after a first-round loss at the US Open, has spoken openly about the mental health struggles she experienced while playing. In a lengthy post on X last summer, she described receiving “hundreds” of abusive messages after a loss and questioned whether the growth of partnerships between tournaments and gambling companies has helped fuel that behaviour.

“Every player … has stories,” she wrote, and added: “I do not want Tennis Insider Club to contribute, even indirectly, to a system that fuels addiction, destroys lives, and turns athletes into daily targets.”

She defended the choice as a values decision: “If we expect athletes to trust us enough to be vulnerable on the podcast, to share their fears, doubts, and mental health battles, then we need to show them that we choose values over money,” Garcia wrote. She clarified her position: “I am not judging anyone who bets casually, or athletes who accept betting sponsors,” and continued, “I am simply choosing what we want to stand for, and what we do not want to amplify.”

The announcement drew public support from peers, with praise coming from International Tennis Hall of Famer Kim Clijsters, French Billie Jean King Cup teammate Alizé Cornet and player-turned-broadcaster Chris Eubanks. “Such a strong stance,” Cornet wrote. “We need more of this.”

Lindsay Davenport has signed a two-year contract renewal to remain the United States captain for the Billie Jean King Cup, the U.S. Tennis Association announced Tuesday.

Davenport, who took the captaincy in 2024, guided the American team to the competition’s final this year, the U.S. squad’s first appearance in that round since 2018. The Americans fell to Italy in the championship match.

“It’s an incredible honor to serve as U.S. Billie Jean Cup Captain, and I’m thrilled and humbled to continue doing it, especially during such an amazing time for women’s tennis in America,” Davenport said.

As a player, Davenport was part of U.S. teams that won the event in 1996, 1999 and 2000. Her individual résumé includes three Grand Slam singles titles, a stint at No. 1 in the WTA rankings and induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2014.

The renewal comes amid a strong year for American women’s tennis. With Coco Gauff at No. 3, Amanda Anisimova at No. 4, Jessica Pegula at No. 6 and Madison Keys at No. 7, this season marked the first time since 2004 that four American women finished the year inside the top 10.

In 2004 Davenport finished the season at No. 1 and was joined in the year-end top 10 by Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Jennifer Capriati.

The USTA said the extension preserves continuity for the Billie Jean King Cup program after the Americans returned to the final under Davenport’s leadership. The two-year deal keeps her in the role as the team prepares for forthcoming international ties and the next edition of the competition.