Putintseva Dances Past Turkish Crowd In Fiery Australian Open Clash

Yulia Putintseva, the world No. 94, delivered a performance for the ages at the Australian Open on January 23, 2026, overcoming not just her opponent, Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez, but also a fiercely partisan crowd on Kia Arena. In a dramatic third-round showdown that stretched over two and a half hours, Putintseva prevailed 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3, booking her spot in the tournament’s round of 16 for the first time in her career. But it wasn’t just the tennis that had fans and pundits buzzing—it was the spectacle that unfolded both on and off the court.

The match itself was a rollercoaster. Sonmez, ranked 112th in the world and riding high after her stunning first-round upset of 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, was chasing history as she aimed to become the first Turkish woman ever to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam in the Open Era. The Turkish fans, a sea of red flags and passionate chants, transformed Kia Arena into a cauldron of noise, rallying behind their underdog hero at every turn. When Sonmez, trailing 3-1 in the second set, mounted a spirited comeback to snatch the set in a tiebreak, the atmosphere reached fever pitch.

Putintseva, however, was undeterred. The Kazakhstani veteran, known for her fiery on-court demeanor, faced more than just tennis shots from across the net. The crowd’s energy, while electric, crossed the line at times. “There were many disrespectful moments, when they shouted between my first and second serves,” Putintseva explained in her post-match press conference, as quoted by The Tennis Letter. “They weren’t even shouting very loudly, just enough to make me err. In the match, I believe the score was 4-3—it was an important point. I’d opened the court well, lined up my forehand, and the guy started coughing just to disrupt my shot. I said to myself: ‘OK, now I’m not going to lose.’ I was ready to give everything, fight to the death.”

The interruptions weren’t isolated. Putintseva recounted, “Not all the time, but at key moments, when it was evidently significant. They were screaming during my shots continuously. When she made a good shot and I was still in the point, they celebrated as if it was already over. They even yelled at me during lobs just as the ball was coming towards me. It’s very distracting, especially in this heat.”

Yet, rather than lose her composure, Putintseva found an unlikely method to maintain her focus: she sang a song about rabbits from a 1969 Soviet film, The Diamond Arm, in her head to drown out the distractions. “It’s kind of funny but I was singing a Russian song from an old movie about rabbits,” she revealed. “It has nothing to do with anything, it’s just about rabbits who eat the grass. I was distracting myself with this. Usually it’s Taylor Swift, but here it has been the rabbit song. I don’t know why.”

The strategy worked. Putintseva held her nerve in the deciding set, using her experience and tactical nous to close out the match. As she sealed victory, the drama reached its crescendo—not with a fist pump or a quiet handshake, but with a theatrical display aimed squarely at the crowd. She cupped her hand to her ear, blew kisses, and topped it off with a provocative dance in front of the Turkish supporters, drawing a cascade of boos. “The dancing in the end was just because I was too tired and the crowd were whistling,” she later explained. “What can you do? You just have to dance through it.”

Putintseva’s antics drew immediate comparisons to similar incidents at the Australian Open in recent years, notably Danielle Collins’ infamous celebration in front of a booing home crowd. But for the Kazakh, the moment was as much about self-control as it was about showmanship. “I’m very happy that I kept my calm, because Yulia last year would probably throw something at them,” she joked. “Some people have education of tennis and, unfortunately, some of them not.”

Despite the controversy, Putintseva made a point to thank the handful of Kazakhstan fans who braved the hostile environment. “These guys are the best. It’s better to have less people but better support,” she said, acknowledging the difference their encouragement made.

For Sonmez, the loss was bittersweet. The 23-year-old’s spirited play and sportsmanship won her a standing ovation from the crowd, who had rallied behind her not just for her tennis but also her kindness—she’d gone viral earlier in the tournament for rushing to the aid of a ball girl who fainted in the heat. Sonmez’s run may have ended, but her popularity soared, and her performance signaled a bright future for Turkish tennis.

The match was played in grueling conditions—intense heat and tricky wind added to the mental and physical challenge. “It’s already tough because she’s playing an incredible tournament and a high-level match. The conditions were harsh: intense heat and quite a bit of wind from one side. In such a situation, you have to keep a clear head, and that’s very challenging,” Putintseva admitted.

As the dust settles on this dramatic encounter, Putintseva advances to the round of 16 for the first time at the Australian Open. She now awaits the winner between Iva Jovic and Jasmine Paolini, with her confidence and resilience riding high. For fans, the memory of her rabbit song, her dance, and her ability to thrive in the face of adversity will linger long after the final ball has been struck.

One thing’s for sure: Yulia Putintseva’s journey at this year’s Australian Open has been anything but ordinary—and the tennis world will be watching closely to see what she does next.