Wimbledon defends watermelon symbol linked to Palestine
Wimbledon has defended its decision to allow a watermelon symbol associated with Palestine to appear on court after a player claimed she was prevented from wearing a pro-Palestine pin during this year’s Championships, reports BritPanorama.
The issue arose when Turkish player Zeynep Sonmez revealed that she had opted for a watermelon-shaped vibration dampener instead of a Palestine pin following discussions with Wimbledon officials. The All England Club maintains a prohibition on political messaging during matches, but tournament director Jamie Baker stated that the watermelon emblem did not warrant any disciplinary action.
“We don’t allow any kind of political messaging from players on court, certainly that caused any type of disruption,” Baker noted. “That has been consistent across the rules for a long time. But in terms of the watermelon, we don’t think that’s meeting the threshold for causing any type of disruption… or worth any punishment,” he added.
The watermelon has gained recognition as a symbol of Palestinian identity, due to its colours reflecting those of the Palestinian flag—red, green, white, and black. It has been increasingly adopted as an alternative emblem in recent years. Sonmez, who is currently ranked world No 51, initially hoped to wear a Palestine pin but was informed that it was not permitted.
In an interview with Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, she expressed her frustrations: “I used to wear a pin. Tournaments no longer allow me to wear it. We had a discussion with the organisers because the Ukrainian flag is allowed but the Palestinian is not. They ultimately told us they definitely would not allow it.”
The disparate treatment of the Palestinian and Ukrainian symbols has raised questions about Wimbledon’s policies. Earlier in the Championships, Ukrainian player Daria Snigur was seen wearing a Ukrainian flag pin while competing. Baker defended the differentiation, saying, “The Ukrainian situation was obviously quite unique, and we were following our government guidance, and the international response. We provided support to our Ukrainian players for quite a while, so that was an individual situation.”
Sonmez’s racket drew attention throughout her singles campaign, which concluded with a second-round exit to American Claire Liu. She later returned to compete in the women’s doubles alongside Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, although they were subsequently eliminated.
The 24-year-old has previously expressed her support for Palestinians, stating in an interview with the WTA last year, “It’s a sensitive area for me. People in Palestine are suffering. I see the videos and photos and feel that there’s not so much we can do. But we can always do our best.” Her stand has garnered praise from Turkey’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Askin Bak, who commended her stance on social media.
Wimbledon continues to adhere to stringent dress codes, requiring players to wear primarily white clothing while enforcing long-established regulations on political messaging during matches.
The ongoing interplay between sport and political expression remains a complex domain, where symbols can carry significant weight—a testament to how even a single emblem can strike a chord amid broader geopolitical tensions.
