Yulia Putintseva’s Australian Open run has been anything but quiet, and her third-round win over Zeynep Sönmez only added to the drama. After causing some controversy against Beatriz Haddad Maia earlier in the tournament, Putintseva once again became a talking point. This time, the Kazakh player was booed throughout her on-court interview following a tough 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3 win in Melbourne.
Yulia Putintseva Embraces Hostile Melbourne Crowd Against Zeynep Sönmez at Australian Open
The negative crowd reaction has followed her since the opening round, when she shocked Brazil’s Haddad Maia in front of a pro-Brazilian crowd. That match lasted almost three hours, and the fans were backing Haddad Maia throughout. The Kazakh didn’t let it slide and responded after the win by pulling faces, doing a short victory dance, and bowing sarcastically to the crowd before walking off.
After dropping the first set 3-6, Putintseva fought back and turned the match around, winning the next two sets 7-5, 6-3. A strong run of five straight games from 1-3 down in the final set sealed the comeback and showed Putintseva’s ability to thrive under both game and mental pressure.
Something similar happened in her third-round match against Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sönmez. Putintseva looked in control at times, as she was leading 3-1 in the second set and 4-1 in the third. However, Sönmez pushed back hard, earning crowd support and quickly becoming the fan favorite.
Sönmez already became the first Turkish player to reach the Australian Open third round after beating 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova and defeating Anna Bondar in straight sets. However, Putintseva’s experience overpowered her opponent’s winning streak.
The audience didn’t forget Putintseva’s actions from the first round, and the Kazakh leaned into the crowd reaction once again. After match point, she cupped her ear toward the stands, which sparked louder boos, and followed it up with another celebratory dance. The booing continued during her post-match interview, but she didn’t seem bothered.
Yulia Putintseva’s reaction to the crowd after beating Zeynep Sonmez at the Australian Open.
The crowd immediately booed her after she put her hand to her ear.
Yulia starts dancing on the court.
It’s all happening. pic.twitter.com/KqmmP4KYVL
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 23, 2026
“Honestly, there were really crazy atmosphere here and the guys, look at them. They’re very passionate about what they doing and it’s very great to see, especially against me because I love this kind of battle,” she said.
When asked about reaching the Australian Open fourth round for the first time, Putintseva kept things simple. “I mean, right now I don’t want to even think about it. I’m here. I’m enjoying my moment and I’m very happy with that,” she said.
Putintseva also gave a nod to the Kazakh fans in attendance and mentioned how quality is often better than quantity. “Now, I know that the crowd atmosphere can be tough at times, but, we got to point out, a lot of Kazakhstan fans in the crowd today as well. These guys, yes, they’re the best. The best. You know, it’s better to have less people, but better support,” she said.
The 31-year-old faces either Iva Jović or Jasmine Paolini for a place in the quarterfinals.
