Turkish player uses watermelon for Palestine at Wimbledon

A Turkish tennis player has found a way to display a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians at Wimbledon after tournament officials told her she could not wear a pin. Zeynep Sönmez, ranked 51st in the world, attached a watermelon-shaped vibration dampener to her racket during her matches at the All England Club this week.

Sönmez said she had previously worn a pin expressing support for Palestine but was informed by Wimbledon organizers that it was not permitted. In an interview with Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, she explained that she and her team questioned why a Ukrainian flag pin was allowed while hers was not. They ultimately told us they definitely would not allow it, she said. So, I can't wear the pin. I can use the vibration dampener, and they can't object to that. That's why I put the watermelon symbol on my racket.

The watermelon, whose red, green, black, and white colors mirror those of the Palestinian flag, has been used as a symbol of Palestinian identity and solidarity for decades, particularly since the 1967 war when displays of the flag were restricted.

Tournament director Jamie Baker addressed the situation, reiterating Wimbledon's general rule against...