Emma Raducanu Stunned by Qualifier Lulu Sun at Wimbledon 2024
Raducanu’s Title Hopes Dashed
Emma Raducanu’s hopes of a deep run at her home Grand Slam were shockingly extinguished by little-known qualifier Lulu Sun in the fourth round of Wimbledon 2024.
The 21-year-old Brit, who captured the nation’s hearts with her fairytale US Open triumph in 2021, was outplayed 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 by the hard-hitting New Zealander on Centre Court.
Who is Giant-Killer Lulu Sun?
World No. 123 Lulu Sun was virtually unknown before this tournament, having never won a Grand Slam main draw match.
The 23-year-old, born to a Croatian father and Chinese mother, used her booming groundstrokes to dictate play against Raducanu, racking up an impressive 52 winners.
Sun’s unorthodox development, honing her aggressive game by studying legends like Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova, paid dividends as she fearlessly attacked the net and overpowered the 10th-seeded Brit.
How the Upset Unfolded
Sun raced to an early lead, breaking Raducanu in her opening service game en route to taking the first set 6-2 in just 34 minutes. Raducanu fought back to claim a tight second set 7-5, but disaster struck early in the decider.The Brit suffered a nasty slip and required a medical timeout.
Upon resumption, a hampered Raducanu was immediately broken and never recovered. Sun continued to crush winners, sealing the biggest victory of her career 6-2 in the third.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lulu Sun | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Emma Raducanu | 2 | 7 | 2 |
Raducanu Vows to Bounce Back Stronger
“A few months ago when I was recovering from three surgeries, I would have taken a Wimbledon fourth round in a heartbeat,” said Raducanu, who had operations on both wrists and an ankle in 2023. “I’m obviously gutted right now, but this just makes me even more determined to come back stronger.
“The 2021 US Open champion had looked impressive in reaching the second week without dropping a set. However, she had no answers for Sun’s relentless power, hitting just 19 winners to 52 unforced errors. Raducanu has not reached a Slam quarterfinal since her shocking New York triumph.
Sun Marches On To Uncharted Territory
By ousting Raducanu, Sun becomes only the seventh qualifier to reach the Wimbledon women’s quarterfinals in the Open Era, and the lowest-ranked player to do so since Serena Williams in 2018. There she will face 20th seed Donna Vekic of Croatia.”Making the quarters of Wimbledon is a dream come true,” said an elated Sun.
“But I’m not done yet. I know I can play even better and I’m excited for the next challenge.”
Key Stats and Facts
- Lulu Sun hit 52 winners compared to just 19 for Emma Raducanu
- Sun converted 6 of 13 break points, while Raducanu managed just 3 of 9
- This was Raducanu’s first loss to a qualifier since her 2021 US Open triumph
- Sun is the first New Zealander to reach a Slam quarterfinal since Marina Erakovic at Wimbledon 2008
- Raducanu’s 2021 US Open title remains her only Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance to date
In a stunning Wimbledon upset, qualifier Lulu Sun overpowered Emma Raducanu 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. The little-known Kiwi’s relentless attacking game proved too much for the injury-hampered Brit, who vowed to come back stronger from the disappointing defeat.
While Raducanu’s wait for a second Slam breakthrough continues, Sun’s fairytale run rolls on to uncharted territory.
