New Zealand tennis sensation Lulu Sun has spoken to 1News about her Wimbledon victory over hometown favourite Emma Raducanu this morning, saying her debut on the famous Centre Court was “unbelievable”.
Sun, 23, is now through to the quarter-finals, where she will play Croatia’s Donna Vekic on Wednesday NZT.
Sun, who fought her way through to the main draw from qualifying, burst into tears after the three-set victory over the former US Open winner, a rush of emotions reflected by her friends and family in the crowd, plus coach Vlado Platenik.
“I honestly didn’t expect to cry,” Sun told 1News reporter Zion Dayal. “I didn’t expect them to cry either. When you put in so much work and finally get that little stepping stone – I think that’s where the emotions rushed in from.”
Lulu Sun is the first New Zealand woman to make the Wimbledon final eight – she told 1News why it’s so special to her and her family. (Source: 1News)
Sun, who was born in Te Anau and represented Switzerland before changing allegiance to her nation of birth this year, added of her experience in front of 15,000 spectators on Centre Court: “It was unbelievable. The atmosphere was crazy. Obviously, all the fans were rooting for Emma because she’s from here but I still enjoyed my time.
“There were some fans in Centre Court for me. I saw the [New Zealand] flags through the British crowd.”
Sun, who began the tournament ranked 123rd in the world, has moved up 70 places to sit at 53rd. She was the first New Zealand woman to make it to the fourth round of the tournament in 65 years and now has the potential for greater glory.
Sun tells 1News reporter Zion Dayal that she burst into tears after beating hometown favourite Emma Raducanu because of all the work she had put in. (Source: 1News)
Asked about how she felt about her next opponent, the 37th-ranked Vekic, Sun said: “She’s a tough opponent obviously... she has a lot of experience and has been on tour a long time. She’s had great results. I’m just going to prepare my best and give it my all.”
Sun’s coach Platenik, who has previously mentored Belinda Bencic, Daria Kasatkina, Ajla Tomljanovic and Dominika Cibulkova among others, said his charge’s breakthrough was a result of her hard work and increasing self belief.
“I’m really emotional because Lulu is really working hard,” Platenik said. “It has come very quickly. We started to work on October and I really believe in her ability and talent.
“It’s important she has more self belief. She was not believing in herself before. She came from university tennis and everything was new for her – big stars and stadiums… I’m so happy that she has managed this.
“In tennis you have to be a little bit selfish and she is the opposite of this. She’s a very nice person.
“She was ranked 230 when we started… she had never played against a top player… so to really be on that mantle, to believe you can go to the top or win a grand slam, you need experience.
“Obviously she was missing it but I kept telling her, I’ve been through this and I’ve seen the players and I know you can do it.”
Slovakian Platenik told 1News that he had played on Wimbledon's Centre Court in a junior tournament as an 18-year-old and felt “shame” because he was alone without a coach or his parents.
“I said [to Sun] whatever you do, don’t look down, look up at us, don’t be ashamed, and the most important thing is your eyes stay on the ball.”
Asked about her prospects against Vekic, Platenik said: “I would say anything is possible. Emma won the US Open from qualies as well.
“Lulu likes the grass. She is playing well. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone has good days and bad days. On the other side there is just a human being and we’ll go as far as possible.”
You can watch Wimbledon live and free on TVNZ+
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