“It was definitely not my best performance,” said Sun. “It was tough conditions [with the wind] – but it is for her as well – I was out of place a lot of times. I at least tried to put in a good fight, even though there were definitely moments where I was like, ‘ah, that was questionable’. It was up and down with my level, good moments, then bad moments came and very inconsistent throughout the whole match.”
However, Sun was also happy to get through the match – after barely playing since August - due to hip and back problems – and felt it was a performance she could build on.
“On a positive note my body is good and it held up,” said Sun, who will play Hobart next week, ahead of the Australian Open. “I’ve had the whole match without any problems and it’s my first match for a while so I have to take that into my mind.”
After reaching the final of the WTA event in Monterrey in late August, Sun retired after the opening set of her first round match at Flushing Meadows a week later.
She returned to the court in China in late September, before calling time on the season prematurely after a second round defeat
Despite a good build up here and in Florida, she admitted to feeling “rusty” on court and also had to deal with the expectation of the big local crowd.
“There is always pressure from different areas, I just have to handle it better,” said Sun. “Now I get more matches I am going to gradually get my momentum back and my game back because right now, it is kind of wishy washy.”
It’s only one match - in a long season - but Monday’s result would have cut deep, in a rare opportunity to play in front of a local audience. Marina Erakovic used to deal with the same dilemma - trying to find her best in Auckland, so early in the season, and Cameron Norrie has also had some painful moments here.
But Sun was also grateful for the reception, with the crowd getting more vocal as the match progressed, willing a turnaround.
“It was amazing,” said Sun. “I’ve always loved my time in New Zealand whenever I get the chance to come back – I wish I had the chance to stay longer but it is what it is.”
In a way, Monday was the perfect storm. As well as blustery conditions, world No 102 Marino was a tricky opponent reliant on big serves and blazing groundstrokes. It meant that rallies tended to be short, cutting down Sun’s time to work her way into the match.
“She plays that way, doesn’t give you a lot of rhythm,” said Sun. “That isn’t a problem for me usually [but today] it was more of a problem.”
But Sun is on a long-term trajectory. It’s sometimes easy to forget but Sun had only played 13 tour level matches before her 2024 heroics, which started with her run from qualifying in Auckland.
In that way she has only scratched the surface of her potential, which will be only able to be properly assessed in the next 12 to 24 months.
Michael Burgess has been a sports journalist since 2005, winning several national awards and covering Olympics, Fifa World Cups and America’s Cup campaigns.
