Hot topics close

Texas Ex Lulu Sun Makes New Zealand Tennis History

Texas Ex Lulu Sun Makes New Zealand Tennis History
The last time a Kiwi made it through the Round of 16 at Wimbledon was 1959. 65 years later, Texas Ex Lulu Sun joined this exclusive group of New Zealander tenni

The last time a Kiwi made it through the Round of 16 at Wimbledon was 1959. 65 years later, Texas Ex Lulu Sun joined this exclusive group of New Zealander tennis stars.

"That is something that definitely doesn't comes by often," Sun said. "I wasn't expecting to be here at this stage. I've just been playing match by match and yeah, here I am."

Sun got her first win at a major tournament on Monday when she defeated eight-seeded Qinwen Zheng 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Now, her fourth-round opponent is nothing short of the 2021 U.S. Open winner Emma Raducanu.

"I would be super happy to have that opportunity – such a great athlete. She's obviously been far in the Grand Slams before, playing on center court and playing against her is an opportunity I'd be super happy with," Sun said.

Raducanu defeated ninth-seeded Maria Sakari in straight sets to make it to the fourth round, but despite having more experience and professional success than the former Texas player, she isn't taking this matchup lightly.

"I played in juniors with (Sun), I know she's a tough competitor," Raducanu said. "You don't qualify and make the fourth (round) if you're not extremely dangerous."

Though Sun only played in Austin for a year, she was key to the program's national title in 2021. As Texas was tied 3-3 in the final against Pepperdine, Sun clinched the title with a 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 win over Russian player Taisiya Pachkaleva, who would later transfer to Texas.

Sun is expected to make a move from her current 123 rank to inside the top 100, where she will join fellow Texas ex Peyton Stearns, who sits in No. 52.

Similar shots
News Archive
  • Trabuco Canyon
    Trabuco Canyon
    Trabuco Canyon brush fire: Fast-moving blaze burns 4000 acres, prompts evacuations
    7 Aug 2018
    1
  • Fargo
    Fargo
    ‘Fargo’ Season 4 Premiere Recap: A History of Violence
    28 Sep 2020
    1
  • Union
    Union
    Union selected for Hillel International Campus Climate Initiative
    16 Feb 2024
    2
  • First Citizens Bank
    First Citizens Bank
    North Carolina's First Citizens Bank to Acquire Most of Collapsed ...
    27 Mar 2023
    3
  • AMC stock
    AMC stock
    GameStop shares surge 70% as meme stock craze returns
    13 May 2024
    24
This week's most popular shots