15 Top Ranked Turkey Tennis Players in History

Max Schnur

Turkey has been home to some of the best and most successful tennis players in the world. From top-ranked singles players to world-class doubles players, the Turkish tennis scene has been blessed with some incredibly talented players.

While there are a number of great tennis players from Turkey, some have stood out for their success on the court. Here are some of the best tennis players from Turkey who have made a mark on the sport.

1. Cem İlkel

Cem İlkel is a professional tennis player from Turkey. He has achieved great success in the world of tennis, having achieved his highest ATP singles ranking of No. 144 on November 29, 2021.

This is an impressive feat, considering that the ATP singles rankings are determined through a system in which players accumulate points over the course of a year. Additionally, İlkel has a career high ATP doubles ranking of No.

299, which he achieved on August 27, 2018. In addition to his impressive rankings, İlkel has also been successful in winning tournaments.

Most notably, he has won one ATP Challenger title in singles, an impressive accomplishment given the high level of competition in such tournaments.

His success has undoubtedly been the result of hard work and dedication to the sport, and it is clear that İlkel is a talented athlete.

2. Çağla Büyükakçay

Çağla Büyükakçay is an extremely accomplished professional tennis player from Turkey. She has had tremendous success on the ITF Women’s Circuit, having won 12 singles titles and 15 doubles titles. In September of 2016, she reached her highest singles ranking of world No. 60.

This was a huge milestone for her, and she accomplished it in style by winning her first title on the WTA Tour at her very own home tournament in Istanbul. This was a truly special moment for her and a great accomplishment that she can be proud of.

Büyükakçay is an inspiration to many aspiring athletes from Turkey and all over the world. She has shown that dedication, hard work, and perseverance can help you achieve your dreams.

Her success has inspired many to pursue their passions and strive to reach the top of their respective sports. Çağla Büyükakçay is an incredible athlete and an amazing role model for aspiring tennis players everywhere.

3. Marsel İlhan

Marsel İlhan is a talented professional tennis player from Turkey who has achieved a great deal of success in the sport. He has been ranked as the No. 1 tennis player in his home country, and his career-high singles ranking was No. 77 in the world in March 2015.

This puts him among the world’s top players and highlights his immense talent and skill.İlhan has achieved a great deal of success in the tennis world, and he has made Turkey proud with his accomplishments.

He has been playing professionally since 2002, and his hard work and dedication has paid off with his No. 1 ranking in Turkey and his career-high ranking of No. 77 in the world.

He is an inspiration to aspiring tennis players, showing that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.

4. Altuğ Çelikbilek

Altuğ Çelikbilek is a professional tennis player from Turkey. He has achieved a world-leading rank of 154 in singles, and 224 in doubles, as of 21 February 2022 and 25 July 2022, respectively.

These rankings are the highest he has achieved in his career so far.Çelikbilek has been playing tennis professionally since the beginning of his career, and his accomplishments in the sport are impressive.

He is considered one of the top players in Turkey, and his world ranking of 154 in singles is a testament to his skill.

He has also reached a career high of 224 in doubles, which is an impressive achievement.Çelikbilek’s success on the court is a result of his dedication to the sport. He spends countless hours practicing and honing his skills, and the results are clear.

His hard work and commitment to excellence have enabled him to reach the heights of the tennis world and become one of the best players in the game. It is clear that Altuğ Çelikbilek has worked hard to become the successful tennis player he is today.

His dedication and commitment have been rewarded with his highest ranking in singles and doubles, and it is likely that he will continue to excel in the sport.

His success serves as an inspiration to aspiring tennis players, and his achievements are a great example of how hard work and dedication can lead to success.

5. Koray Kirci

Koray Kırcı is a professional Turkish tennis player who has achieved great success in the sport. He has achieved a career-high ATP singles ranking of 868, which he achieved on 30 July 2018, and a career high ATP doubles ranking of 855, achieved on 29 October 2018.

These impressive rankings make Kırcı one of the best tennis players in Turkey. Kırcı’s impressive career has continued to progress, as he made his ATP main draw debut at the 2018 Antalya Open in the doubles draw partnering Ergi Kırkın.

This was a huge milestone for Kırcı, as his success in the ATP main draw further affirmed his status as one of the top players in the country. Koray Kırcı is an admirable athlete who continues to strive for success in the sport of tennis.

His impressive rankings and ATP main draw debut have proven that he is a talented player who has the potential to achieve even greater success in the future.

6. Sarp Ağabigün

Sarp Ağabigün is an accomplished Turkish tennis player who has achieved immense success in both singles and doubles. His highest ATP singles ranking was 831, achieved on October 16, 2017. Meanwhile, his highest ATP doubles ranking was 322, achieved on June 27, 2016.

Ağabigün made his ATP main draw debut at the 2017 Antalya Open, where he partnered with Altuğ Çelikbilek in the doubles draw. This impressive feat of making the ATP main draw is a major accomplishment for any tennis player and is indicative of Ağabigün’s skill and ambition.

He has consistently shown that he is a talented player who is capable of taking on the toughest challenges. Ağabigün is a great example of a player who has worked hard and achieved success in the tennis world.

7. Ergi Kırkın

Ergi Kırkın is a professional Turkish tennis player who has achieved considerable success in his career. He currently has a career high singles ranking of World No. 270, which he achieved on 25 July 2022.

This is an impressive feat, considering the competitive nature of the sport. In addition to this, Kırkın has also won nine ITF singles titles, which is a testimony to his consistency and hard work. His doubles ranking is also impressive, with a career-high of World No.

330, achieved on 3 October 2022. This shows that Kırkın is not only a talented singles player but also a proficient doubles player. His success in both singles and doubles is a testament to his commitment to the sport, and his ability to excel in both disciplines.

8. Tuna Altuna

Tuna Altuna is a professional tennis player from Turkey. He has achieved impressive accomplishments in both the singles and doubles categories. His highest singles ranking was 651, which he achieved on September 9, 2013.

This is a great accomplishment, especially considering his young age. His highest doubles ranking was 355, achieved on December 28, 2015.

Even more impressive, he was able to enter the doubles main draw of the inaugural ATP Garanti Koza Sofia Open in Sofia, Bulgaria in February 2016. This tournament was a milestone for Turkish tennis, and Altuna was a part of it.

Altuna’s success is a testament to his dedication and skills and shows that he can compete with the best in the world.

9. Umut Akkoyun

Umut Akkoyun is a professional Turkish tennis player. He achieved his highest ATP singles ranking of 2005 on January 4, 2021. Additionally, he achieved his highest ATP doubles ranking of 675 on the same day.

He has won a total of one ITF doubles title on the ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour. Akkoyun has competed in several tournaments, and his success is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport.

He has shown an impressive level of skill and determination to reach the heights that he has in his career. His accomplishments are a source of inspiration to aspiring tennis players in Turkey, and beyond.

Akkoyun’s achievements thus far are remarkable, and he is sure to go even further in the future. He has set an example for other athletes, showing that hard work and dedication can bring success.

His career is definitely one to watch, and he is sure to bring many more accolades to his name in the years to come.

10. Pemra Özgen

Pemra Özgen is a professional tennis player from Turkey. She has had an impressive career on the ITF Circuit, having won 18 singles and 23 doubles titles. Her highest singles ranking was world No. 182, which she achieved in August 2019.

In addition, her highest doubles ranking was No. 179, which she achieved in October 2013. As a result, she has been able to compete in some prestigious tournaments, especially in doubles.Özgen is a very experienced player and has developed a strong style of play over the years.

Her technique and tactical awareness have allowed her to be successful in singles and doubles. She is also a very consistent player, able to maintain a high level of performance throughout a match.

Her success has not only brought her recognition in her home country of Turkey but also around the world. Overall, Pemra Özgen is an impressive professional tennis player with a great career.

Her ability to win 18 singles and 23 doubles titles on the ITF Circuit is an impressive feat. Furthermore, her highest rankings of world No. 182 in singles and No. 179 in doubles is evidence of her skill and consistency.

As she continues her career, she will no doubt continue to be successful and a force to be reckoned with.

11. İpek Soylu

İpek Soylu is a professional tennis player from Turkey. She has been playing for many years and has had quite a successful career. She has won three doubles titles on the WTA Tour, one of them being the biggest of her career, the 2016 year-end Elite Trophy.

Additionally, she has won 12 singles titles and 18 doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. On October 31, 2016, she reached her highest world ranking of No. 151 in singles play.

Soylu has proven to be a talented and consistent player throughout her career, with many wins under her belt. Her success is a testament to her hard work and dedication to the sport.

12. İpek Öz

İpek Öz is a professional Turkish tennis player who has been making a name for herself on the court. She holds the highest singles ranking of 163 in the world, which she achieved on 18 July of 2022.

Additionally, she has reached the highest doubles ranking of 327 in the WTA on 13 June of 2022. Her impressive success has earned her respect amongst her peers and fans, and she is sure to continue to rise in the ranks of professional tennis.

As a young and talented player, Öz is sure to have a long and prosperous career in the sport.

13. İpek Şenoğlu

İpek Şenoğlu, also known as İpeko, is a former tennis player from Turkey. She was the first Turkish player to make history by becoming a part of the women’s doubles qualifying for Wimbledon, in June 2004.

This was a huge milestone for Turkish tennis, as never before had a player from the country been accepted to compete in such a prestigious tournament.

Şenoğlu was a highly successful tennis player during her career, reaching the semi-finals in doubles at the Istanbul Open in 2005, and achieving a career high ranking of 307 in the singles category of the WTA rankings.

She also won the Turkey Open in 2004, and was a part of the Turkish Fed Cup team for two years, from 2003 – 2005. Şenoğlu’s success at Wimbledon was a major moment for Turkish tennis, and her legacy remains to this day.

She was an inspiration to many aspiring young players from Turkey, showing them that they too could compete at the highest level. Şenoğlu’s achievements will forever be remembered as a major milestone in the history of Turkish tennis.

14. Nazmi Bari

Nazmi Bari was a professional tennis player from Turkey. He was born in Istanbul and began playing tennis at an early age, becoming one of the top players in the country.

He represented Turkey in multiple international tournaments, including the Davis Cup and the World Team Cup. Bari had a successful career, reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open in 1978, and the fourth round at Wimbledon in 1979.

He was also the runner-up of the 1985 Grand Prix tournament in Istanbul and reached the third round of the US Open in 1982.

In his career, Bari achieved several wins against some of the world’s greatest players, including John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, and Boris Becker.In addition to his success as a player, Bari was also an accomplished coach.

He coached the Turkish National Team from 1991 to 1996 and during that time helped them reach their highest-ever ranking in the Davis Cup.

He also coached some of Turkey’s top players, including Ahmet Akif, Seda Noorlander, and Cem Ozdemir. Bari was known for his strong work ethic, which he attributed to his success.

He was also an influential figure in the Turkish tennis community, and many of the younger players looked up to him as a mentor. In 2013, Bari was inducted into the Turkish Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements.

He passed away in 2018, but his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of tennis players in Turkey.

15. Başak Eraydın

Başak Eraydın is a talented Turkish professional tennis player. She has achieved a great deal of success throughout her career, winning 15 singles titles and 18 doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. Her singles ranking peaked on 2 April 2018, when she became the world No. 156.

She also achieved her highest doubles ranking on 6 June 2016, reaching No. 151. Eraydın’s impressive career is attributed to her hard work and dedication to the game.

She has consistently achieved impressive results on the court, further proving her talent as a professional tennis player. With her continued success, she is sure to become a household name in the world of tennis.

Conclusion

Turkey has some of the best tennis players in the world. They are some of the most talented and hardworking athletes in the sport.

Not only do they have a strong presence in the international tennis circuit, but they also have a strong presence in the domestic Turkish tennis scene.

With the success of tennis players like Marsel İlhan, Cem İlkel, and Mert Naci Turker, Turkey has become one of the top countries for tennis in the world.

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Max Schnur

I am a professional tennis player on the ATP Tour. I am currently ranked at #29 in the world and have been playing for more than ten years. I started practicing tennis when I was five years old and quickly became obsessed with the sport. I started playing competitively at age 10, and after turning pro in 2004, I was able to compete on the ATP Tour for a decade. As an international athlete, my life has always been about travel and my love of traveling has led me to explore different cultures around the world. When not on tour, I can be found traveling around Europe or living it up in Las Vegas with friends from all over the globe! LinkedIn