Zuhal Demirci, Muhammed Kılıç

July 2, 2026•Update: July 2, 2026

London / Anadolu

Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sonmaz said she started playing matches at the Wimbledon tennis tournament while placing a vibration dampener bearing the watermelon symbol, which represents the Palestinian flag, on her racket.

In an interview with Anadolu, Sonmaz explained that tournament organizers in Britain prevented her from wearing a decorative pin expressing her support for Palestine.

She added: "Raising the Ukrainian flag is allowed, but showing support for Palestine is not allowed."

Sonmaz continued: "So I can no longer wear the decorative pin. But the vibration dampener, I can use it, and they cannot object to it. That's why I put the watermelon symbol on my racket."

It is worth noting that the "watermelon" symbol has turned into an icon supporting Palestine around the world, alongside the keffiyeh.