Zeynep Sonmez described Wednesday's opening-round victory over Jasmine Paolini at the Stuttgart Open as the standout result of her career, after she stunned the fifth seed.

Qualifier Sonmez picked up a shock 6-2 6-2 triumph against Paolini to tee up a clash with Leylah Fernandez in the next round, achieving a rare feat in the process. 

She became the second Turkish player to defeat a top-10 opponent since the WTA rankings were first published, after Cagla Buyukakcay (Fed Cup 2018, vs Jelena Ostapenko).

From the outset, Sonmez dictated the play with authority, dominating not only the scoreline but nearly every statistical category.

She saved the only break point she faced and held serve throughout the match, while breaking Paolini four times to dismantle her opponent's rhythm.

"First of all, it was a pleasure sharing the court with Jasmine; she's a fantastic player and I really enjoy playing against her," Sonmez said after the match.

"This win is the biggest of my career, so I'm very happy. I felt great on the court; our training sessions went very well."

Stunning in Stuttgart @ZeynepSonmez__ displays a dominant performance defeating Top 10 player, Paolini in straight sets!#PorscheTennis pic.twitter.com/t7B6ACcloD

— wta (@WTA) April 15, 2026

Beyond the milestone victory, Sonmez acknowledged the growing recognition she has begun to experience off the court as her profile rises.

"I haven't been able to go home much lately because I've been travelling a lot, but sometimes people recognise me in the supermarket when I return," she said.

"It's crazy for me because I'm not used to it, but it's a great feeling when people ask for photos or autographs."