Lulu Sun denied place in Jinan final after epic three-set battle

Lulu Sun was unable to convert two second-set match points as she lost 4-6 7-6(7) 6-4 to Janice Tjen from Indonesia in the semifinals at the WTA 125 tournament in Jinan, China.

It was an epic two-hour, 17 minute battle, which was moved to an indoor court, because of inclement weather. 

Both players went for their shots and dragged each other around the court, with Tjen, the tournament’s No 3 seed prevailing in the end.

Sun got the only break of the opening set, but fell behind 0-3 at the start of the second.

The 24-year-old fought back and served for the match at 5-4. But Tjen got the break back and eventually took the set to a tiebreak.

Sun got a mini break on the first point of it and continued to hold onto that lead. 

But she double faulted on the first match point, then put a backhand into the net on the next after a long rally.

At 7-7, Sun put a smash into the net when going for a winner and she overhit a return on the next point, which resulted in the match being level at one set each.

Sun was broken in the third game of the deciding set and midway through it they swapped further breaks.

Although Sun kept fighting, she couldn’t get back on level terms and Tjen clinched a spot in the final on her third match point.