Zeynep Sönmez vs Claire Liu — 7-5 6-3

Result

Qualifier Claire Liu beat Zeynep Sönmez 7-5 6-3 on Court 15 in 1h 30m to reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time. Liu served three aces to none and won 69% of her second-serve points, breaking three times from seven chances. She took 68 of the match's 127 points, edging a tight opening set before pulling clear in the second.

Zeynep Sönmez

Claire Liu

0Aces3

2Double faults3

72%1st serve in77%

66%1st-serve points won65%

50%2nd-serve points won69%

110 mphFastest serve106 mph

1/1Break points won3/7

13Winners16

19Unforced errors15

9/10Net points won10/15

59Total points won68

954 mDistance run876 m

Stats: Official wimbledon.com match statistics (IBM) · as of 2026-07-09

Rows the source hadn’t published are left off rather than guessed.

At this Stage

Thirty main-draw appearances at the majors and never a third round — until now. Claire Liu, the 2017 Wimbledon girls' champion, came through qualifying, rallied past Hanne Vandewinkel 4-6 6-3 6-4, and then beat Zeynep Sönmez 7-5 6-3 to finally cross the line. Sönmez had done the harder demolition work already, coming from a set down to remove 28th seed Ann Li, but Liu was the steadier player once it tightened. The reward is considerable and complicated at once: seventh seed Coco Gauff, compatriot against compatriot, in the last 32. Nine years after winning the junior title on these lawns, Liu finally gets the senior stage her fortnight has earned.

Ann Li

Zeynep Sönmez✓

Jun 29–30

7-5 1-6 6-4

Claire Liu✓

Hanne Vandewinkel

Jun 29–30

4-6 6-3 6-4

Solana Sierra✓

Anna Bondár

Jun 29–30

6-3 5-7 7-5

Coco Gauff✓

Tamara Korpatsch

Jun 29–30

6-2 6-1

Zeynep Sönmez

Claire Liu✓

Jul 1–2

7-5 6-3

Coco Gauff✓

Solana Sierra

Jul 1–2

6-3 3-6 7-6(7)

Coco Gauff✓

Claire Liu

Jul 3–4

6-3 6-7(5) 6-2

Round of 128

Ann Li

Zeynep Sönmez✓

Jun 29–30

7-5 1-6 6-4

Claire Liu✓

Hanne Vandewinkel

Jun 29–30

4-6 6-3 6-4

Solana Sierra✓

Anna Bondár

Jun 29–30

6-3 5-7 7-5

Coco Gauff✓

Tamara Korpatsch

Jun 29–30

6-2 6-1

Round of 64

Zeynep Sönmez

Claire Liu✓

Jul 1–2

7-5 6-3

Coco Gauff✓

Solana Sierra

Jul 1–2

6-3 3-6 7-6(7)

Round of 32

Coco Gauff✓

Claire Liu

Jul 3–4

6-3 6-7(5) 6-2

What we know now

Tale of the tape

Zeynep SönmezClaire Liu

24Age26

5′7″ (1.70 m)Height5′7″ (1.70 m)

—Weight—

Right-handed, two-handed backhandPlaysRight-handed, two-handed backhand

2019Turned pro2016

No. 51ATP rankingNo. 146

—2026 win–loss—

—Career on grass—

0Grand Slam titles0

Second round (2026)Best at WimbledonThird round (2026)

Issam JellaliCoachGena Ball

Player vitals: ATP Tour player profiles and Wikipedia (career records) · as of 2026-07-09.

The briefing