A Dangerous Encounter on the Court
During the 2026 French Open, the most significant threat to competitors has proven to be not the skill of their opponents, but rather the placement of court-side signage. Turkish athlete Zeynep Sönmez was compelled to withdraw from her match on Friday following a painful knee injury sustained after tripping over an on-court advertisement.
The Incident During Doubles Play
Sönmez was competing in a women’s doubles event alongside partner Tatjana Maria. The incident took place early in the match, only two games in, as Sönmez attempted to track down a ball near the baseline. While sprinting, she caught her foot on a small, elevated Lacoste advertisement positioned on the court surface.
Following the accident, Sönmez was unable to continue play. She later revealed that the trauma to her knee was significant enough to require two stitches.
Calls for Safety Reforms
The incident has sparked a heated debate regarding the safety of placement for such marketing materials. Sönmez expressed her frustration, advocating for the immediate removal of these boards to prevent future accidents. In a statement posted on X, she questioned the safety standards of the tournament:
«Do we really have to wait until a player is seriously injured before these court-side boards are removed?»
Sönmez’s concerns were echoed by British tennis star Katie Boulter, who shared a similar experience of tripping over the same Lacoste advertisements. Boulter publicly asserted that the placement of these ads is hazardous and that they «have to go» to ensure player safety.
Tournament Implications
At the time of the withdrawal, Sönmez and Maria were down 2-0 in the opening set. As a result of the injury, their opponents—Dayana Yastremska and Anhelina Kalinina—advanced to the next round via a walkover.