Incident at the French Open
PARIS – In a distressing incident during the French Open, Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sönmez was forced to withdraw from her women’s doubles match after suffering a fall over an advertising board positioned near the back of the court. While Sönmez emerged with only minor injuries, requiring two stitches and nursing a bruised knee, she expressed her concerns on social media, calling for immediate action regarding safety at the tournament.
“Thank goodness I didn’t sustain a more serious injury,” Sönmez shared on X. “Is it necessary to wait for a severe injury before we take action about these boards? Player safety must be the top priority.”
Her fall occurred on Court No. 6 while she attempted to retrieve a high bouncing ball. In the process, she clipped the board with her feet and fell into the fencing’s sheeting. Although her doubles partner Tatjana Maria, alongside their opponents Dayana Yastremska and Anhelina Kalinina, rushed to her side, Sönmez was unable to continue the match, which had progressed to a score of 2-0.
Similar Incidents and Reactions
This incident follows a similar near-miss involving British player Katie Boulter, who suffered a tumble when her feet caught on the same Lacoste-branded advertising board during her singles match against Anastasia Potapova the day prior.
“These things must go,” Boulter urged on X. “I was lucky this time, but next time could be different.”
In response to these alarming occurrences, the French Tennis Federation acknowledged the players’ concerns, indicating that they are considering changes based on both player feedback and their own observations. They reassured that all Roland-Garros courts currently comply with international standards, which mandate a minimum distance of 6.4 meters from the baseline to the back of the court. Nevertheless, the well-being of participants remains the tournament’s primary concern, and adjustments will be forthcoming.
Calls for Change
Notable players, including four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek, have joined the call for re-evaluation. Swiatek emphasized that occurrences like this should incite immediate change.
“We need more space on clay courts, especially since the balls can engage more height with the spin,”
she noted, suggesting that moving the advertising boards could present a viable solution.
After securing her third-round victory, Marta Kostyuk recounted her own close call earlier in the tournament, revealing that she opted against pursuing a difficult ball to avoid injury.
“It’s horrible; I’d prefer to concede a point than risk injury,”
she stated, expressing sympathy for Sönmez.
“Hopefully her injuries aren’t too severe, but incidents like these are happening too frequently.”
These incidents have sparked a broader conversation about player safety and the configuration of advertising around the courts, with many urging the French Open officials to take swift, effective measures to ensure the protection of players during the competition.
