2024-07-08 20:20:02
From a steadily improving start in qualifying – when Sun saved a match point in the second round against Czech Gabriela Knutson – the world No.123 has now won seven straight matches in her life-changing Grand Slam campaign.
Sun’s first-round upset of Australian Open 2024 finalist and No.8 seed Zheng Qinwen was her first completed victory over a top-100 player; she then added further wins over higher-ranked opponents in Yuliia Starodubtseva and Zhu Lin.
But it was a hard-fought win over Emma Raducanu that arguably showed how comfortable Sun feels on the famous All England Club grass.
A first meeting with the British wildcard was also Sun’s maiden appearance on Centre Court.
“Walking through the doors … I was thinking ‘wow, I’ve never seen this’ and I was just like looking around and taking it all in for the first time,” she smiled.
It was all business, though, as Sun tackled the biggest opportunity of her career so far; in a nerveless performance, she struck 15 winners compared to two from Raducanu to secure the first set.
Raducanu, who famously claimed the US Open 2021 title as a teenage qualifier, recovered to force a decider, but Sun maintained composure – and pressure – to claim a 6-2 5-7 6-2 win after two hours and 50 minutes.
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“I think staying aggressive was definitely a key point to the match,” said Sun, who ultimately tallied 52 winners and won 23 of her 28 net points.
“It worked well because getting her to move and getting her on the defence was what I wanted because as soon as she gets aggressive on her side, then the chance gets smaller for me.”
