Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sönmez announced that she is playing matches at Wimbledon with a vibration dampener featuring a watermelon symbol on her racket in support of Palestine.
Sönmez stated that tournament organizers had previously not allowed her to wear a badge with a message of support for Palestine. The national team player said, "The Ukrainian flag is allowed, but showing support for Palestine is not permitted," and added that she then chose an alternative method.
Sönmez said, "That's why I can't wear the badge anymore. But I can use the vibration dampener, and they can't object to it. So I placed the watermelon symbol on my racket."
The watermelon symbol has recently become one of the symbols of solidarity with Palestine worldwide, often used alongside the keffiyeh.