Sun draws inspiration from YouTube greats to write Wimbledon history

London (AFP) – Lulu Sun on Sunday became the first New Zealand woman to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals and hailed the inspiration she found in turning to YouTube to learn from Centre Court legends Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova.

Published on: 07/07/2024 – 21:36Amended: 07/07/2024 – 23:40

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Qualifier Sun, ranked 123rd in the world, advanced to the quarter-finals with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 victory over 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu.

The 23-year-old left-hander hit 52 winners against Raducanu, who was hoping to capitalise on an open draw and become the first British women’s champion at Wimbledon in 47 years.

“I just watch the professionals grow,” Sun said when asked how she honed her impressive grass-court tactics.

“For example, Roger Federer, of course, coming towards the net, and I also watched Steffi Graf versus Martina Navratilova on YouTube.

“It was just amazing to watch them play. Of course, I couldn’t see them live, but I was taking everything the pros were doing and trying to do the same for my game.”

Sun will next face Donna Vekic of Croatia, who will be trying to become the second New Zealander to reach a Grand Slam semi-final after Belinda Cordwell at the 1989 Australian Open.

Before Wimbledon, she had not won a match on grass this year.

However, her victory on Sunday means she will at least be among the top 60 players after Wimbledon, while also qualifying for the quarter-finals, which guarantees her a minimum prize of $375,000.

Sun is the daughter of a Chinese mother and a Croatian father.

After living in Te Anau on New Zealand’s South Island – a town she describes as having “more sheep and deer than people” – she moved with her mother to Shanghai before settling in Switzerland.

Until this year, she played under the Swiss flag after also playing college tennis in the United States.

“It was not an easy decision (to change national allegiance), it never is when you have to choose between two things,” Sun said.

“I am always grateful for everything Swiss tennis has done in my junior career. At the same time, I am also grateful to Tennis New Zealand for their support and everything they have done so far.

“It will always be all the countries that I have lived in, where I grew up or that I have a connection with, they will always be in me in some way. I don’t think it will ever leave me.”

Vekic is also in the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time, but she reached the quarterfinals at the 2019 US Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

“She’s had an incredible run since qualifying. Obviously she’s playing great tennis,” said Vekic, ranked 37th in the world.

“I don’t know much about her, but no one reaches the quarter-finals of Wimbledon by accident.”