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.

Elina Svitolina has settled into a new rhythm in 2026, balancing family life with renewed ambition on court. The world No. 9 prepared for her Qatar TotalEnergies Open opener by “switching off completely,” spending the morning with daughter Skaï and then beating countrywoman Dayana Yastremska 6-1, 6-4.

Hers is a notable comeback since returning from maternity leave in 2023. Once a Top 3 player and frequent Grand Slam hopeful, Svitolina has reshaped expectations while remaining a serious threat at the biggest events. She described the shift in perspective plainly: “I think after giving birth and having different perspectives, I accepted this idea that I am ok to live my life after tennis and not having won a Grand Slam. I’ve still had a very solid career on my shoulders and I did my very best. If it happens at the end of my career, ok, amazing. But if not, it’s also an amazing career. I just have to accept it and after all, it’s not only about tennis at the end of the day.”

The Olympic bronze medalist also carries the weight of national representation. After a difficult Billie Jean King Cup campaign last fall she said, “I almost felt like I let down my country, my team, everybody.” She regrouped during an extended off-season at home with Skaï and returned with momentum, collecting her 19th career WTA title and riding a 10-match winning streak into her first Australian Open semifinal, clinching that spot with a win over Coco Gauff.

Svitolina has become a mentor to younger compatriots, noting of Oleksandra Oliynykova: “Our lockers were actually next to each other, so I saw her quite a bit.” She has also taken a broader view beyond tennis, planning a tennis academy and a padel club to expand sports opportunities in Ukraine. “You’re actually the first to know,” she said with a laugh.

Unburdened by past pressure and working with a sports psychologist, Svitolina senses opportunity. “I feel like I have a chance,” she said. “I feel like everybody who plays a main draw has a chance, whether it’s just a little one or you’re a big favorite. We’ve seen so many surprise finalists and winners, and players who really play well for two weeks who surprise even themselves.

“Of course, I see how, from experiencing all these matches over the years, I feel like a more solid player. I feel like my game really improved and I can really win matches and challenge big players. When I’m fit, when I’m mentally good, I can have a chance. So, I do believe in this, and then whatever comes, comes.”

Former world No. 8 Daria Kasatkina said watching the Winter Olympic Games helped her rediscover the consistency that had been missing through a difficult start to 2026. At the Qatar TotalEnergies Open she won back-to-back matches for the first time since August, following a straight-sets win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse and a 6-4, 6-0 victory over No. 16 seed Elise Mertens.

“Obviously, I’m watching figure skating. That’s pretty obvious,” Kasatkina said in a nod to longtime girlfriend and former Olympian Natalia Zabiiako. The 28-year-old admitted the Down Under swing after adopting the Aussie flag produced just one win in three tournaments, including a first-round exit at the Australian Open.

“I didn’t feel very nervous or extra pressure during the Aussie swing,” Kasatkina insisted on Tuesday. But she also accepted the ups and downs of a prolonged recovery. As she put it, “nothing is forever,” and the progress she showed in Doha feels encouraging.

“For a long time, I didn’t feel like this on the tennis court,” she said after defeating Mertens, 6-4, 6-0. “It’s something I was looking for over the past few months.

“It’s more the feeling of the results I’m getting after the work I’ve done for the past few months,” she added later. “When I say a few months, I mean over the last five-six months. Tennis is a difficult sport because sometimes you can get results straightaway, and other times you can wait much longer for them to come.

“I hope this is the first sign of my job paying off, but I don’t want to be super excited and think I’m finally back. There’s a lot still to work on, but I hope it’s just the beginning.”

Off court, Kasatkina has been following partner Zabiiako’s high-profile same-sex partnership with Gabriella Papadakis. A co-creator of Kasatkina’s What The Vlog YouTube channel, Zabiiako’s emotional performances have drawn wide attention.

“Natasha is enjoying it so much because unfortunately, she cannot get the same feeling on ice with me!” Kasatkina said with a laugh. “She needed someone a little bit better. Honestly, seeing her in her habitat is amazing. She’s really enjoying it and I can see how good she feels on the ice.

“Skating with someone like Gabriella is amazing and the results are very good, as well. I’m really happy for her and hopefully they can continue to do some stuff together because it looks beautiful.”

Kasatkina said she and Zabiiako plan to watch the Olympic-themed hockey drama Heated Rivalry and described her own progress on the ice as gradual. “I am often on the ice!” said the Aussie. “Not on the level I want to, but it’s like in tennis: one day’s better, one day’s worse. It depends on the ice, depends on the skates. But I really like it. It’s something about, when you learn something new, it’s good for your head. The only thing is that it’s a bit dangerous, so I have to be really careful. I might not care about my body as much if I wasn’t a professional athlete, and I would probably go on the ice by myself more often without the support.

“I’m still a little bit scared on the ice, so I’m always searching for something to hold onto so I don’t fall! So, my progress is stuck a little bit. Still, little by little, I’m improving.”

She joked about winter sport options. “Honestly, the Winter Olympic sports are dangerous!” she joked. “They’re either dangerous or boring!” Kasatkina also reflected on temperament on court: “On the tennis court, I think I’m just pretty much stuck in an Eastern Europe mentality,” sighed Kasatkina, who could face top seed Iga Swiatek in the third round. “It’s difficult to change because it’s coming from when I was a kid. This is something probably I have to keep going with, adding some positive Aussie stuff in there. But in life, it’s definitely the best approach ever. I’m trying to get it more and more.

“The tennis court is a bit different because of all the pressure and emotions involved. You need to really know how to manage them.”