It’s turning into a fairy-tale run for Yulia Putintseva at the Australian Open. The world No.94 came in red-hot, storming through her matches so far. She took down Beatriz Haddad Maia and Elsa Jacquemot with grit and flair. Having dropped only one set, she carried strong momentum into her third-round clash against Zeynep Sonmez. The result spoke for itself, but this time, the Aussie crowd stole a bit of the spotlight.

On Friday, the fiery Kazakh snatched the first set, stumbled in the second, and then surged back to dominate the third, sealing the win 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3. But as the final point landed, things took an unexpected turn. Boos rang across the court when Yulia placed her finger to her ear, teasing the crowd. Unbothered, she turned it into a celebration and broke into a bold dance at Show Court Arena.

When asked about the crowd’s reaction in her post-match interview, Yulia Putintseva didn’t hold back:

“Honestly, really crazy atmosphere,” she said, “The guys…look at them. They’re very passionate about what they’re doing. It’s very, very great to see. Especially against me. Because I love this kind of battle.”

Here’s what happened. The Kia Arena turned into a wild wave of red as Turkish fans filled the stands, flags waving proudly for their surprise star, Zeynep Sonmez. Ranked No. 112 in the world, she was chasing history, trying to become the first Turkish player ever to reach a Grand Slam fourth round in the Open Era. The energy was off the charts, and the crowd made sure everyone felt it.

Sonmez, who stunned 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in her first match, fought like a warrior again. Down 3-1 in the second set, she refused to fold, digging deep to level the match with a thrilling tiebreak win that sent her supporters into chaos. Every winner she hit came with a roar from both her and the crowd.

But Yulia Putintseva had the final say, keeping her cool to seal the deciding set. Then came the drama. As the boos rang out, Putintseva twirled and danced her way to her bench before packing up her racket, soaking in every reaction. earning more reactions from the crowd.

She also thanked the handful of Kazakhstan fans in the crowd, saying: “These guys are the best. It’s better to have less people but better support.”

While she moves into the next round, Yulia also experience another emotion. Suddenly nosalgic she spoke of an old song from her childhood that seemed to help keep her focus.

Yulia Putintseva reveals the secret to ignoring crowd disapproval

Amid a chorus of boos from the crowd, Yulia found her own way to keep focus: by breaking into song. The Kazakh player was caught quietly singing ‘Song About Rabbits’ from the 1969 Soviet comedy ‘The Diamond Arm’ right in the middle of her match. It was a strange yet oddly charming moment that seemed to keep her calm when the atmosphere turned tense.

“And here it comes, a rabbit song,” Putintseva laughed afterward. “I’m like, I don’t know why… it has nothing to do with anything. It’s just about rabbits who eat the grass. I was distracting myself with this.”

Top Stories

“Be Respectful”: Coco Gauff Shuts Down Crowd Comment as She Backs American Rival at Australian Open

Novak Djokovic’s Wife Fires Back at Naomi Osaka and Chair Umpire After Australian Open Drama: “Disrespectful”

Amanda Anisimova Breaks Silence on Changing Nationality With a Bold Take at the Australian Open

“Wanting This for a While”: Iva Jovic Speaks Out After Stunning Unwell Jasmine Paolini at Australian Open

Who Are the Commentators for Australian Open 2026? Full List of Broadcasters & Analysts

The spontaneous tune choice surprised even her. She hadn’t watched the movie since she was 14, and her usual mental playlist leaned more toward Taylor Swift or The Weeknd. But somehow, this whimsical Soviet melody kept her locked in and swinging freely when it mattered.

That focus translated to results. Putintseva fired two aces, committed just one double fault, converted six of 13 break points, and held serve in 12 games. After a stumble while serving for the match at 6-5 in the second set, she used her “rabbit trick” to settle down and finish strong.

Now, she’s heading into the fourth round for a showdown with 18-year-old American Iva Jovic, who just stunned seventh seed Jasmine Paolini. Can the Kazakh keep hopping forward in her run? Share your thoughts in the comments