Çağla Büyükakçay
A Turkish tennis trailblazer who made history by winning her nation's first-ever WTA title on home soil in Istanbul.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Turkish tennis player·Birthday: September 28·Millennials
Biography
Çağla Büyükakçay carries the weight of Turkish tennis history on her shoulders, and in 2016, she lifted it with a triumphant smile. For years, she had been her country's top-ranked female player, grinding through qualifying rounds and ITF events. The breakthrough came at the Istanbul Cup, where she stormed through the draw as a wildcard, defeating higher-ranked opponents to reach the final. Her straight-sets victory in that final wasn't just a personal milestone; it was a national one, making her the first Turkish woman to ever win a WTA Tour title. That moment in front of a home crowd cemented her status as a pioneer. While injuries later challenged her, Büyükakçay's career, which also includes Fed Cup representation and a top-100 ranking, remains defined by that singular, groundbreaking week where she proved what was possible for athletes from her country.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Çağla was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Çağla Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Çağla's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first Turkish woman to win a WTA Tour title by capturing the 2016 Istanbul Cup.
- Achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 82 in 2017.
- Won nine singles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit.
- Has represented Turkey in Fed Cup (Billie Jean King Cup) competition since 2009, playing both singles and doubles.
Did You Know?
She started playing tennis at age six.
She is a fan of the football club Galatasaray S.K.
She was awarded the 'Breakthrough of the Year' honor at the 2016 WTA Awards.
She is fluent in Turkish, English, and Spanish.
“I won the first WTA title for Turkey, and that's a huge step for Turkish tennis.”
