Lulu Sun’s remarkable journey to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon has captured the hearts of tennis fans around the world. Ranked 123rd and playing in only her second Grand Slam, the 23-year-old has surpassed all expectations and become one of the feel-good stories of the tournament.
Sun’s background is as diverse as her tennis skills. Born in the small town of Te Anau in New Zealand, she has a Chinese mother, a Croatian father, and a stepdad from Devon. She grew up in New Zealand before moving to Switzerland at the age of five. Sun is multilingual, speaking English, French, and Mandarin, and recently switched her nationality to New Zealand in order to represent the country at the Olympics.
Before her rise in tennis, Sun studied political science at the University of Texas, where she played for the tennis team and led them to the NCAA championship. Her former mentor, Howard Joffe, describes her as a “working machine” and admires her tenacity and focus on and off the court.
On the court, Sun’s left-handed play and punishing forehand have been key to her success at Wimbledon. She has shown great efficiency at the net and has been able to regroup and stay focused even in challenging situations. Her coach, Vladimir Platenik, believes that Sun has the potential to be one of the best in the world and has worked with her to remodel her serve and backhand.
Sun’s next challenge is Donna Vekic in the quarterfinals. Platenik believes that if Sun plays her best, she can be a dangerous opponent for anyone. He has previously coached top-10 players and sees great potential in Sun’s game.
Sun’s journey from being an unknown player to a Wimbledon quarterfinalist has been a result of her hard work and determination. She has overcome injuries and setbacks, constantly striving to improve her game. Her ability to multitask and her commitment to her studies have impressed her former coach, Joffe.
Off the court, Sun is described as having a great sense of humor and not taking herself too seriously. She is also a talented artist and has a tendency to forget things, which her team fondly laughs about.
Sun’s success at Wimbledon has been a breakthrough moment for her career. Even if she doesn’t win the tournament, her ranking will soar and she will have the opportunity to compete in more prestigious events. Her coach, Platenik, believes that the hard court season is where Sun shines the most, and they are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.
As Sun continues her journey at Wimbledon, her former coach Joffe will be eagerly watching from Montana, hoping to see her dreams come true. Sun’s run at Wimbledon has already made a lasting impact and has the potential to be a springboard to even greater success in the future.