Defending champion Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon journey came to an abrupt end on Sunday as she fell to New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun in a thrilling three-set encounter.
Twenty-year-old Raducanu, who made history last year as the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title at the US Open, was aiming to defend her Wimbledon title after receiving a wildcard entry into the tournament. However, she faced a stern challenge in Sun, a 29-year-old qualifier who had never before reached the second round of a Grand Slam.
The match began with Raducanu appearing in control as she broke Sun's serve in the opening game. However, Sun quickly found her rhythm and broke back in the fourth game before consolidating her advantage with a hold to take a 3-2 lead. Raducanu fought back to level the set at 3-3, but Sun's consistent groundstrokes proved too much, and she took the first set 6-2.
Emma Raducanu Bows Out of Wimbledon in Upset Loss to Lulu Sun
In the second set, Raducanu showed her fighting spirit as she broke Sun twice to take a 4-0 lead. Sun, however, refused to give up and clawed her way back into the set by winning four consecutive games. Raducanu's resilience paid off as she held her nerve in a tense tiebreak to win the second set 7-5.
The deciding set was a rollercoaster of emotions as both players exchanged breaks. Raducanu managed to break Sun in the third game, but Sun responded with a break of her own in the fifth game. The momentum swung in Sun's favor as she broke Raducanu again in the seventh game to take a 5-2 lead.
With the crowd firmly behind her, Raducanu fought back, holding to make it 5-3. However, Sun remained calm under pressure and closed out the match with a solid hold, securing a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 victory in two hours and 20 minutes.
Sun's victory was a testament to her determination and the unpredictable nature of tennis. It also marked a disappointing end to Raducanu's Wimbledon campaign, but the young British star will have plenty of opportunities to prove her worth in the future.
