06 April 2026

Mercedes-Benz Otomotiv Becomes the Main Sponsor of the Turkish Tennis Federation

Adding tennis to its diverse support for different sports branches in Türkiye, Mercedes-Benz has become the Main Sponsor of the Turkish Tennis Federation until the end of 2027. 

Şükrü Bekdikhan announced that they will organize a tennis tournament in 2026 named after Mercedes-Benz, which will be a "first" in Türkiye.

Ms. Şafak Müderrisgil evaluated the partnership, stating, "This cooperation we have brought to life with Mercedes-Benz is an important reflection of the strong partnership vision we have established in line with the sustainable development goals of Turkish tennis."

Mercedes-Benz has added the Main Sponsorship of the Turkish Tennis Federation to its national team-level sponsorship supports in Türkiye. The signing ceremony, hosted by Mercedes-Benz, was attended by National Tennis Players Çağla Büyükakçay and Kerem Yılmaz, alongside Junior National tennis players.

Bekdikhan: “We carry the pride of being one of the biggest supporters of sports and athletes in Türkiye.”

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mercedes-Benz Otomotiv Chief Executive Officer Şükrü Bekdikhan stated that supporting sports and athletes holds an important place in Mercedes-Benz's global strategy. In line with this strategy, they cooperate with federations in Türkiye to stand by national teams in the achievements they win all around the world. Stating that they have expanded the scope of their support for sports with tennis, Bekdikhan said:

"Tennis is a sport synonymous with discipline, strategy, and excellence, just like Mercedes-Benz. In this sense, Mercedes-Benz announced its long-term global sponsorship with the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). We wanted to unite the star of Turkish tennis players, who have risen rapidly in this sport especially in recent years, with the Mercedes-Benz star. While celebrating this special year of our 140-year innovation journey with the largest product launch program in our history, we are launching our Main Sponsorship of the Turkish Tennis Federation with the aim of crowning it with valuable and sustainable collaborations. We believe that this cooperation, which we started for 2 years, will continue for many more years given the importance we, as Mercedes-Benz, place on sustainability."

Underlining that Istanbul holds an important place on the world tennis calendar, Şükrü Bekdikhan added, "As one of the Main Sponsors of the international Istanbul Open tennis tournament, which will take place in Istanbul in May, we will stand by the Turkish Tennis Federation and our athletes. By undertaking the transportation of the athletes in these tournaments, we aim to offer them a comfortable and uninterrupted travel experience between busy match schedules with our Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and light commercial vehicles."

The tennis tournament named after Mercedes-Benz, a "first" in Türkiye, will take place in the final quarter of 2026

Stating that a tennis tournament bearing the name of the Turkish Tennis Federation and Mercedes-Benz—which will be a first in Türkiye—will be organized towards the final quarter of the year, Bekdikhan said, "To contribute to the development of Turkish tennis, we will stand by the athletes representing Türkiye in the international arena, especially by supporting young athletes to access more opportunities. We believe that this tournament will turn into a brand value that will carry the popularity of tennis in Türkiye to the next level."

Müderrisgil: “We are carrying Turkish tennis into the future through strong collaborations.”

In her evaluation regarding the sponsorship agreement, Turkish Tennis Federation President Ms. Şafak Müderrisgil pointed out that tennis, by its very nature, is a sport that ensures its sustainable development through strong collaborations. Ms. Müderrisgil expressed, "Tennis is a branch that grows, develops, and produces value not only through sporting achievements but also through strong and long-term collaborations established with brands. At this point, our sponsors are among the most important stakeholders in the development journey of Turkish tennis."

Emphasizing that the Turkish Tennis Federation's sponsorship approach is not based solely on singular organizations, Ms. Müderrisgil said:

"As the Federation, we structure our collaborations not just for a single tournament or short-term projects, but in line with sustainable and long-term development goals extending from grassroots to the elite level. Our goal is to strengthen support mechanisms at every stage of the journey, from the initial point where the athlete is trained to international success, and to shape this process around a common vision with the brands we work with."

“The Mercedes-Benz cooperation is a powerful part of our vision”

Making a special emphasis on the cooperation established with Mercedes-Benz, Ms. Müderrisgil evaluated:

"The trust felt toward Turkish tennis by a globally powerful brand like Mercedes-Benz, and their long-term investment in this field, is extremely valuable for our vision. Especially the tournament that will bear the name of Mercedes-Benz and will be a first in our country will create new opportunities for our athletes. I thank the Mercedes-Benz family for this valuable cooperation and the contributions they present to the development of Turkish tennis."

Ms. Müderrisgil also stated that the momentum captured by Turkish tennis in recent years will grow even stronger with such strategic collaborations, adding, "Training athletes who compete internationally, spreading the tennis culture nationwide, and carrying Türkiye to a strong position in the global tennis ecosystem are among our primary goals. In this regard, the collaborations we establish with brands that share our values and believe in the future of Turkish tennis are one of the most important building blocks of our 'Turkish Tennis Move' (Türkiye Tenis Hamlesi) vision."

National tennis players thanked Mercedes-Benz

Speaking at the event, one of the national tennis players, Çağla Büyükakçay, stated that the support given to tennis by international brands like Mercedes-Benz is a great source of motivation, saying, "We are very happy that the WTA Tournament Istanbul Open is being organized in Türkiye once again. Such tournaments are a great opportunity for young athletes to improve themselves. Being a part of such an important cooperation also makes me feel privileged."

National athlete Kerem Yılmaz also emphasized that the support of Mercedes-Benz is highly important for young athletes and thanked everyone who contributed to the realization of the cooperation.

Mercedes-Benz Strengthens Global Collaborations in Tennis

Roger Federer, one of the most important players in the tennis world, has been serving as the brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz since 2008. Roger Federer's distinguished stance and flawless play style, which led him to be called "His Majesty" on the courts throughout his tennis career, represent Mercedes-Benz's vision of luxury and performance. The cooperation, extended until 2027, shows that Federer continues to be the brand face of Mercedes-Benz not only as an athlete but also as a global role model.

Furthermore, this year Mercedes-Benz became the Premier Partner and the Sole Official Automotive Partner of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Mercedes-Benz and the WTA aim to increase the global impact and visibility of women's tennis. At the same time, 21-year-old Coco Gauff, who holds two Grand Slam singles and one Grand Slam doubles championship, has joined the global brand ambassadors.

06 April 2026