(VIDEO) Zeynep Sonmez forced to retire from doubles match after tripping over advertisement board and falling into wall
WTA
A doubles match had to be abruptly halted after just two games after Zeynep Sonmez tripped over the advertising board at the back of the court before falling into the wall at Roland Garros.
She had partnered German veteran Tatjana Maria with Ukrainian duo Anhelina Kalinina and Dayana Yastremska the other side of the court, all looking concerned after the incident occurred which would end Sonmez's French Open.
After finding themselves 2-0 down after a slow start, a deep shot caught the attention of Sonmez who took ownership of it. It was an awkward one to deal with as the Turk bailed out of it as the wall came closer.
She would then trip over the advertising board placed precariously on the ground before slamming straight into the wall in a very concerning moment for everyone on court.
Sonmez seemed in pain as Maria was quick to comfort her as Kalinina and Yastremska also came to the other side of the court to overview the situation. Sonmez could not continue after injuring her ankle, giving the Ukraine duo a pass to the next round, but not in the way that they would have wanted.
Following from Blockx incident
This is not the first time something similar has happened in this tournament. Alexander Blockx had been supposed to compete against Alex de Minaur in the second round of Roland Garros before he tripped over the covers at the back of the court.
He went on to describe the scenario with a very angry and frustrated Instagram post. “Unfortunately during today’s practice i heard a snap in my ankle while i sprained it, which is why i had to withdraw from tomorrow’s match that i was really looking forward to. A lot of frustration but we move on,” he wrote after withdrawing.
There have been questions on why the covers were there in the first place with many fans and pundits asking for a safer place for them to be put. Sonmez's incident will back up those claims with another injury being occurred from this placement.
Zeynep Sonmez just had to retire from her doubles match at #RolandGarros because of this…
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 29, 2026
Unbelievable that tennis can’t learn from previous incidents. pic.twitter.com/fbpnP4bqMY
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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