23 May 2026
Istanbul Open Press Conference Held
The press conference for the Istanbul Open, which was organized by the Turkish Tennis Federation (TTF) between May 4–10, 2026, and holds a significant place on the international tennis calendar, was held at the TTF Istanbul Tennis Training Center.
The Istanbul Open, a WTA 125 category tournament, aims to contribute to the development of tennis in Türkiye while further strengthening Istanbul's position on the international tennis stage.
The press conference was attended by Turkish Tennis Federation President Ms. Şafak Müderrisgil, Mercedes-Benz Otomotiv Chief Executive Officer Şükrü Bekdikhan, Tersane Istanbul Managing Director Çetin Pehlivan, Türkiye İş Bankası Deputy Director General Suat Sözen, Acıbadem Healthcare Group Board Member Mustafa Eröğüt, Istanbul Open Tournament Director Melis Yafe, national tennis player Ayla Aksu, and Croatian tennis player Donna Vekić.
A total of 76 athletes from 19 different countries competed in the Istanbul Open. Türkiye was represented in the main draw by Ayla Aksu and Çağla Büyükakçay via wild cards, and Berfu Cengiz via direct acceptance. In the qualifying draw, Defne Çırpanlı, Minel Naz Kaynak, and Sude Ulueren competed as wild card entries.
Ms. Şafak Müderrisgil: “With the Istanbul Open, we are
strengthening Türkiye’s position in international tennis”
Turkish Tennis Federation President Ms. Şafak Müderrisgil emphasized that the Istanbul Open is a significant milestone in the international journey of Turkish tennis, stating:
"Today, we are gathered here to welcome a major step forward in the international journey of Turkish tennis. As the Turkish Tennis Federation, we take great pleasure and pride in bringing one of the prominent events of international women's tennis—under the name of the Istanbul Open—back to our country. This organization is not merely a tournament; it is a powerful step representing the growth, vision, and future determination of Turkish tennis.
Türkiye’s journey on the WTA calendar gained significant momentum with organizations that began in 2005. Our country secured a strong position on the international tennis scene by hosting the WTA Finals in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Following this period, Türkiye consolidated this standing as tournaments continued between 2014 and 2018. As of 2019, the organization moved forward with a new structure, maintaining its place on the calendar in 2020, 2021, and 2022. This nearly 20-year accumulation of experience has made the point we have reached today possible.
The Istanbul Open is a vital component of our sustainable growth strategy. We aim to elevate these tournaments to higher levels each year by continuously improving them, making our country a permanent hub in the tennis world.
This WTA 125 level tournament serves as a crucial launching pad for young and rising players, offering a highly competitive environment and acting as a critical stepping stone to upper-tier circuits. For Türkiye, it is an important platform that provides our players with international match experience and supports their transition to higher levels.
The Istanbul Open also increases Türkiye’s visibility in the tennis world, reinforces its status as an international tournament hub, and contributes to our goals of grassroots tennis development.
This year, 76 athletes from nearly 30 different countries are competing in the tournament. The world rankings of the main draw players range approximately between 89 and 220.
The athletes representing our country in this tournament are a distinct source of pride for us. Ayla Aksu and Çağla Büyükakçay feature in the main draw via wild cards, and Berfu Cengiz via direct acceptance. In the qualifying draw, Defne Çırpanlı, Minel Naz Kaynak, and Sude Ulueren fought hard as wild cards.
At this point, I would like to extend my gratitude to all
our sponsors who contribute to the development of Turkish tennis. The strong
and sustainable partnerships we establish allow us to build the future of
Turkish tennis. As the Federation, we remain resolutely committed to growing
the Istanbul Open and driving it further forward every year. Thank you for your
participation and support."
Şükrü Bekdikhan: “Our support for tennis is strategic and
long-term”
Mercedes-Benz Otomotiv CEO Şükrü Bekdikhan emphasized that
their support for sports spans many years, noting:
"As Mercedes-Benz, we possess a strategic perspective
focused on tennis globally. The long-term partnership initiated globally with
the WTA highlights that our support for tennis will be strategic and long-term
for our brand. We believe that re-entering the WTA tournament calendar with the
Istanbul Open will increase interest in tennis within our country. Furthermore,
throughout the tournament, we will provide transportation for national and
international athletes using our Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and light
commercial vehicles, ensuring they experience the highest levels of comfort and
safety on their journeys."
Çetin Pehlivan: “We view sports as part of the city’s
international identity”
Tersane Istanbul Managing Director Çetin Pehlivan
highlighted the role of sports in city life:
"As Tersane Istanbul, we are delighted to be one of the
main sponsors of the Istanbul Open WTA 125. As you know, sports sit at the very
center of Tersane Istanbul. With the Tersane Istanbul Rowing Cup held on the
Golden Horn, we brought rowing back into the city's spotlight; with our padel
courts, we opened up space for a rising sports discipline; and today, right
here, we are collectively witnessing Türkiye's representation on the
international arena through the Istanbul Open WTA 125.
We view sports as a lifestyle, a ground for convergence, and
an inseparable part of our city's international identity. Türkiye's
re-emergence on the global tennis calendar will both inspire our young athletes
and carry our city to its deserved position on the international sports
stage."
Suat Sözen: “Our true desire is for success to fill the
headlines not because it is rare, but because it multiplies”
Türkiye İş Bankası Deputy Director General Suat Sözen
pointed out that their core focus under the Tennis Federation main sponsorship
is to popularize tennis across the country and introduce more youth to the
sport:
"We wish to bring tennis—a field of development
extending from the court to life itself that supports physical, mental, and
social growth—together with many of our youth and citizens. We have built this
cooperation upon three pillars: the Haydi Tenise ('Let's Play Tennis') project,
which aims to introduce more children to tennis through equipment support; the
Coach Development Program, launched to support the advancement of our coaches;
and our sponsorship of the Turkish Tennis League, which will pave the way for
athletes to enter the national team by increasing competition.
It is immensely valuable for our children to watch the
world's best athletes on television or from the stands and encounter such role
models through these organizations. Success is measured not only by the
trophies won but also by the paths cleared, the efforts spent, and the courage
left to upcoming generations. Our true desire is for success in tennis to fill
the headlines not because it is rare, but because it multiplies. I have full
faith that we will see those days."
Mustafa Eröğüt: “Healthcare support plays a critical role in
sports sustainability”
Acıbadem Healthcare Group Board Member Mustafa Eröğüt shared
his evaluations regarding their medical sponsorship:
"As Acıbadem Healthcare Group, we are very happy to be
the medical sponsor of this important tournament. As someone who has long been
involved in sports, we see the immense effort operating behind these processes.
The strong relationships our TTF President, Ms. Şafak, establishes with
sponsors send highly important messages regarding the sustainability and future
of the Tennis Federation. As Acıbadem Healthcare Group, we are the medical and
performance sponsors for more than 30 federations and clubs. We possess the
only FIFA-accredited medical center in Türkiye, and we can safely say the
health of the clubs is entrusted to us. Now, we have begun preparing our
programs for individual athletes within the Tennis Federation as well. I hope
we will also have a hand in preparing future champions. What matters is
creating a legacy here and transferring it into the future. I believe the
awareness generated here will help tennis develop further and lead to the
emergence of more athletes like Ayla."
Melis Yafe: “We aim to be better with each passing day”
Istanbul Open Tournament Director Melis Yafe evaluated the
initial days of the organization, saying:
"We have already begun receiving wonderful praise from
both the players and WTA officials. We aim to do even better in the days
ahead."
Ayla Aksu: “These tournaments are crucial for the
popularization of tennis”
National tennis player Ayla Aksu drew attention to the
importance of the tournament for the development of the sport:
"I would like to thank our federation and the sponsors
who made this tournament possible. These tournaments are incredibly important
for making tennis known and sparking curiosity in children who watch us,
especially regarding grassroots popularization. We thoroughly enjoy playing in
these events. Our country deserves even larger tournaments, and this is a
beginning. This is very precious for us; it is highly valuable both for
improving our rankings and for making tennis more recognizable and accessible
to spectators and young children across other cities. Thank you for coming, and
we look forward to seeing you at our doubles match today."
Donna Vekić: “Being in Istanbul is always very special for
me”
Donna Vekić, one of the top players competing in the
tournament, shared her thoughts on the organization:
"I am very happy to be here. I have visited Istanbul
many times and it brings me great joy to return every single time. It is a
beautiful organization; it is a tough week but we are being hosted incredibly
well. Some of you might expect to see me in the final—it will be a challenging
week, but I hope to be there. I want to thank the sponsors and the federation.
Women's tennis is a branch with a bright future in Türkiye, and events like
this will contribute significantly to that growth."
Having commenced on May 4 with main draw matches, the
Istanbul Open will conclude with the singles final match to be played on May 10
at 14:00.
23 May 2026
