Lulu Sun named WTA’s newcomer of the year

Lulu Sun grabbed the world's attention with her Wimledon run. Photo / AELTC / Jonathan Nackstrand.

Kiwi tennis player Lulu Sun has been named the WTA’s newcomer of the year following her Wimbledon quarter-final run as a qualifier.

Sun was the breakout star of 2024, having been ranked outside the top 200 in January before soaring to No.40 by the year’s end.

She kicked off her incredible campaign by making her Grand Slam main draw at the Australian Open before enjoying more success at the majors with her first Top 10 win over No.8 Zheng Qinwen as part of a quarter-final run at Wimbledon as a qualifier.

Sun made history as the first New Zealand woman to reach the quarter-final stage in the Open Era before falling to Donna Vekić in three sets.

Sun rounded out her season by reaching her first Tour final in Monterrey at the WTA 500 Abierto GNP Seguros and peaked in the PIF WTA Rankings at No.39.

The 23-year-old prematurely ended her season after pulling out of last month’s Hong Kong Open with a wrist injury.

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She will appear at the ASB Classic, after reaching the second round in this year’s tournament while representing Switzerland.

In other awards, Aryna Sabalenka was voted Player of the Year for the first time. The 26-year-old reached seven finals across 2024 and won four titles, defending her Australian Open title, lifting her debut US Open crown and winning WTA 1000 events at the Cincinnati Open and the Dongfeng Voyah · Wuhan Open.

Emma Navarro was named Most Improved Player of the Year while Doubles Team of the Year went to Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini.