top of page

Lulu Sun stuns eighth seed at Wimbledon

New Zealand's Lulu Sun has scored a big upset in the first round of Wimbledon
New Zealand's Lulu Sun has beaten the eighth seed and 2024 Australian Open finalist in the first round of Wimbledon. PHOTO: WIMBLEDON

New Zealand;s Lulu Sun has scored a huge opening round win at Wimbledon with a three-set defeat over eighth seed Qinwen Zheng,


Sun, ranked 123 in the world and a qualifier, beat this year's Australian Open runner-up.4-6 6- 6-4 in 1 hour and 57 minutes in London on Monday (Tuesday NZ Time) to seal her place in the second round.


LATEST HEADLINES:


It was a breakthrough victory for Sun in many ways. Not only was it the first win over a top-10 opponent in her career, it was her first win over a player ranked inside the top-50.


It was also her first Grand Slam main draw victory, in just her second major appearance.


Sun was nearly eliminated in qualifying last week. She had to save a match point in the second round before defeating Gabriela Knutson in a final-set 10-point tiebreak.


The match was scheduled to be played on Court 18, but was moved to the bigger Court 3, which holds 2000 spectators.



Sun showed few nerves throughout the game while Zheng looked uncomfortable at time on grass, the least of her favourite surfaces.


"I didn't really think about it much, like I don't have a chance. It really was I'm just going to play, fight and enjoy myself," said Sun.


The 23-year-old Sun is the first woman representing New Zealand to reach the second round of a Grand Slam since Marina Erakovic's run to the Wimbledon third round in 2016.


Sun will meet her fellow qualifier Yulia Starodubtseva of in the second round, after the Ukrainian beat Alison van Uytvanck 6-4 6-3.

bottom of page