In Australia on January 23, 2026, Yulia Putintseva battled against Zeynep Sonmez in a highly charged third-round match at the Australian Open. This match saw a significant presence of Turkish fans supporting Sonmez, who had gained popularity after her first-round performance. Despite the passionate support from the crowd, Putintseva managed to clinch a 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3 victory. Her win marked a significant achievement, as it was her first time advancing to the fourth round of a Grand Slam event at the age of 31. Following her victory, the Kazakh player engaged with the crowd in a way that further fueled the partisan atmosphere surrounding the match. She cupped her ear to listen to the booing Turkish fans and blew kisses, actions that were provocative and drew attention during her post-match interview. While she acknowledged the enthusiastic atmosphere created by the Turkish supporters, she also expressed dissatisfaction with certain crowd behaviors, specifically citing instances of loud interruptions during her serves. Putintseva criticized these actions as