PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers women’s tennis head coach Hilary Ritchie announced the signing of Zeynep Ilker on Monday afternoon. Ilker, a Bursa, Turkey native, will join the team in the 2024 fall as a freshman.
“We are excited to announce that Zeynep is going to join our program this fall,” said Ritchie. “She has a passion for tennis and a wonderful, optimistic personality. Her experiences representing Turkey in national team events is going to translate well to college tennis.”
“I chose Rutgers because I believe the university provides an amazing balance between great academics and competitive athletics,” said Ilker. “It is one of the best places that student-athletes can continue their career.”
Ilker has enjoyed the opportunity to represent her country as a member of Turkey’s National Team. Through a successful run in the National Team Tournament in Turkey, she was able to qualify for the National Team, a goal Ilker has been aiming to achieve since she was 10 years old. As a member of Turkey’s national squad, Ilker has taken part in European Championships.
In addition to her success with Turkey’s National Team, Ilker has also spent years competing on the ITF Junior Tour. In 2023, the incoming freshman reached a career-best ranking of 408.
Ilker resides in Bursa, Turkey, with her father, Serdar, and her mother, Nuran Özkocaman. She also has one sister, Asli.
“I can say that we are an athletic family,” mentioned Ilker. “My dad is a national paraglider, and my mom is a P.E. teacher who played tennis and handball during college. My sister also plays tennis, so we’re all athletic and love spending most of our time playing sports.”
Ilker attends Çakir High School in Bursa, Turkey. Along with being a part of her school’s tennis team, Ilker has also been a member of the Rotary Interact Club. The organization participates in volunteer projects along the region with their mission to make the world a better place.
When she arrives in Piscataway, Ilker will aim to continue reaching her athletic and academic goals while being a part of Rutgers University.
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