Lulu Sun’s journey to Wimbledon 2024 has captured the world’s interest in the last couple of weeks. Born in Te Anau, New Zealand, to a Croatian father and a Chinese mother, Sun moved to Switzerland at the age of five and later played college tennis at the University of Texas. Initially representing Switzerland, she switched her national allegiance to New Zealand in March 2024 after receiving a warm reception at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
Sun’s 2024 season began with a main draw debut at the Australian Open and a significant victory at the Dubai Championships. Despite setbacks in the French Open qualifiers, she qualified for Wimbledon by winning three matches. In the first round, she stunned eighth seed Zheng Qinwen, followed by victories over Yuliia Starodubtseva and Lin Zhu.
Her success at Wimbledon has made her the first New Zealand woman to reach the fourth round in the Open Era. She continued her historic run by defeating Emma Raducanu, the British favourites, to reach the quarterfinals. The match showcased her tenacity and skills. Sun now faces Donna Vekic in the quarterfinals, marking a significant milestone in her career.
In a recent interview, Sun expressed her excitement and gratitude: “I wasn’t expecting to be here at this stage, but I’ve just been playing match-by-match, and here I am,” she said with a laugh. Reflecting on her multicultural background and the journey that brought her to this point, she added, “From an early age, I got to see the world and get to know it through my family. I’m lucky to have all these backgrounds behind me.”
As Sun prepares for her quarterfinal match, her focus remains on enjoying the experience and giving her best performance.
