Lulu Sun's fairytale run at Wimbledon continues

Lulu Sun has won her second-round match in the ladies' singles, defeating Yuliia Starodubtseva 4-6 6-3 6-2 in a battle that lasted two hours, 13 minutes.

This was Sun’s fifth win at this year’s Wimbledon, including three victories in qualifying and making it to the last 32, puts her up there with the best players in the world.

This was Sun’s eighth match in a row on grass. It’s a surface not many players feel comfortable on, but the fact that Sun is so used to it now has helped her get this far.

“I played two tournaments before. I played a total of three matches. I had a good level of players I played against,” she said.

“I didn’t play on grass last year (because of an injury), so there was a gap there. 

“But I think those matches helped me to gain some match play on grass and towards qualifying.”

However, Starodubtseva got off to a great start to this match, breaking Sun in the first game, then holding to love and although the Kiwi got the break back in the middle of the set, she was broken again at 4-4.

Sun got a break early in the second set, but came close to losing it when she fell behind 14-50 at 4-2, but like so many times during these championships, she was able to serve her way out of trouble and go up 5-2.

The next game was a marathon, with it going to deuce 13 times before Starodubtseva finally managed to get the hold, but it wasn’t enough to save her as Sun clinched the set with an ace in the following game.

Starodubtseva received a medical time-out for an issue with her left foot before the third set began. Although she showed no signs of physically struggling, the Ukrainian was broken in the opening game.

Sun got another break later in the set, then held to love for yet another incredible victory at this year’s championships for the 23-year-old from Te Anau.

Once again, Sun showed her great mental strength and once she got a break up, she never looked like relinquishing it.

“For me, when the point is over, I try to think of the next one,” she said. 

“I try to learn from what happened in the last point, but I just think about the next one, because you can’t dwell on the past, otherwise you’re going to set yourself up on a losing streak of points. 

“So I try to clear my mind, breathe and relax. This is obviously the big stage and a big tournament, but at the same time, if you don’t put your head down and focus, you’re going to lose opportunities.”

Sun’s next match is against Lin Zhu from China and weather permitting will be played on Friday, UK time.