Putintseva's taunt to the Turkish crowd: "I could only dance for them"

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Yulia Putintseva is back in the spotlight. The Kazakh player secured victory in her third-round match at the 2026 Australian Open after defeating Zeynep Sonmez in a tough battle 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3, reaching the tournament's round of 16 for the first time.

The issue arose when Yulia Putintseva, instead of celebrating her achievement, decided to confront the Turkish crowd that had been constantly cheering for Zeynep Sonmez throughout the match. First, the Kazakh player cupped her hand to her ear, then blew kisses, and finally started dancing in front of a large group of Turks.

The post-match press conference revolved around the controversial ending and her celebration, although Putintseva also expressed her frustration with the Turkish fans' loud and "disrespectful" behavior during points.

Yulia Putintseva explains the reason behind her controversial celebration after defeating Zeynep Sonmez at the 2026 Australian Open

"There is always someone cheering for one side or the other, and that's part of the beauty of sports. However, there were some really disrespectful moments today, with shouting between my first and second serve, not just normally, but very loudly, clearly trying to disrupt me."

"During a game when the score was 4-3, there was a crucial point: I set up the shot perfectly, hit a forehand, and someone started coughing right at the moment of impact. That's when I thought, 'Okay, today I won't lose.' I was ready to fight till the end. There are people with a tennis upbringing, but unfortunately, some lack it. Eventually, due to tiredness and the booing, all I could do was dance and carry on."

She admits her reaction would have been worse a year ago

"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."

"But I'm very glad I managed to keep my cool because the Yulia from last year would probably have thrown something into the stands at some point."

She explains the key to her victory

"I believe it was about staying focused and controlling emotions, considering everything that was happening. 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," concludes a Yulia Putintseva who never shies away from controversy but has now advanced to the round of 16 in the 2026 Australian Open, awaiting the winner between Iva Jovic and Jasmine Paolini.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La vacilada de Putintseva al público turco: "Solo podía bailarles"