Despite a tough draw, New Zealand tennis player Lulu Sun has advanced to the second round at the WTA 1000 Indian Wells tournament.
Sun, the world No 49, defeated Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova, a player ranked 12 places higher, 6-3 1-6 7-6(2) in Palm Springs, California for just her second win of 2025 on Wednesday (Thursday NZ Time).
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Sun lost to Sramkova 6-3 6-1 in the WTA tournament in Merida, Mexico just over a week ago but this time came through the winner in 2 hours 7 minutes, setting up a second-round match against Czech Linda Noskova.
Sun, 23, had just one previous win in 2025 in her eight tournaments.
In doubles, Kiwi-Canadian Erin Routliffe and Canadian Gaby Dabrowski were second seeds but have drawn against the difficult pair of Leylah Fernandez (Canada) and Luisa Stefani (Brazil).
The men's doubles draw featuring Michael Venus has yet to be released.