Lulu Sun’s amazing run from qualifying to the quarter-finals has come to an end following a defeat to world No 37 Donna Vekic. Video / NZ Herald
Lulu Sun lost to Donna Vekic - 7-5, 4-6, 1-6
On a rainy day at Wimbledon, Lulu Sun’s amazing run from qualifying to the quarter-finals came to an end following a 7-5, 4-6, 1-6 defeat to world No 37 Donna Vekic.
One set away from a spot in the semifinals, New Zealand fans watching in the middle of the night could dare to dream of a Kiwi in the final four of Wimbledon for the first time since 1983.
After winning the first set, and looking composed throughout much of the second in a classic back-and-forth slugfest, Sun looked on the edge of advancing further at just her second grand slam. However, she didn’t have an answer in the deciding set as the unseeded Croatian took control to book her maiden grand slam semifinal appearance.
Seven victories at Wimbledon means you’re the champion. Sun had seven under her belt before the quarter-final after coming through three qualifying wins and four more to reach the final eight, but she looked to run out of steam in the last set as rain poured down on the roof at Court 1.
Vekic will next play either seventh Jasmine Paolini or American Emma Navarro, 19th seed, for a spot in the final.
Up against a strong baseline game, Sun wasn’t as aggressive as she was in her quarter-final win over Emma Raducanu with fewer winners but didn’t back down from the challenge in the first two sets. Vekic praised the New Zealander’s efforts.
“It was a really tough match. She played unbelievable. I feel like she really pushed me to my limits,” Vekic said after her win.
Donna Vekic of Croatia in action against Lulu Sun in the quarter-final. Photo / Getty Images
The Te Anau-born Sun came into the tournament as world number 123 and will break into the world top 60 following Wimbledon, which will mean a spot in the US Open main draw and should mean she won’t need to go through qualifying again next year.
She also takes home the biggest payday of her young career – £375,000 ($782,056) for reaching the final eight, as well as some extra perks.
In a tense and even opening set that lasted an hour, the Kiwi qualifier got the vital break in the 11th game before closing out the set 7-5.
The first set went to serve early but Vekic had the break chances, blowing three break points in Sun’s second service game. In a long game that went to deuce 10 times, Sun held serve eventually with an ace.
Vekic had the upper hand again in the 10th game, two points away from the set at 0-30 5-4. But again Sun calmly served her way out of the hole to make it 5-5.
And then a few minutes later the Kiwi got the key first break of the first set. Serving for the set at 6-5, again the 23-year-old showed composure to take the opening set, leaving her one set away from the final four.
Vekic came out with a stronger serve in the second set but Sun responded as she also grew in confidence with her serve as the match went on. Vekic broke Sun in the eighth game at 5-3 and had the chance to serve for the second set, but suddenly struggled with five double faults as Sun made it 5-4 and back to serve, getting the break on her third chance.
But Vekic quickly broke straight back to take the second set 6-4 and then got on an unstoppable run in the final set, going out to 5-0 before Sun held serve.
From qualifier to quarter-finalist, a #Wimbledon run to remember 👏
Sun’s run is the best by a Kiwi at a grand slam since Belinda Cordwell got as far as the semifinals at the 1989 Australian Open. The last New Zealander to reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon was Chris Lewis in 1983, when he went on to make the final, losing to American great John McEnroe.
For Kiwi fans who set their alarm clocks or stayed up until midnight to watch, the sun will still come up tomorrow and in Sun, New Zealand finally has another tennis star. The new dawn has only just begun.
