Remarkable 2024 season comes to an end for Lulu Sun

Lulu Sun has called time on her 2024 season because of injury and will turn her attention towards her next tournament, which will be the ASB Classic.

Sun was due to play the Hong Kong Open this week and had been in the city for several days to prepare.

However, she made the call to pull out of it due to an injury.

“I’m disappointed and saddened to share the news that, due to an injury, I've had to step back from the Hong Kong tournament,” Sun wrote on Instagram.

“I arrived six days ago, fully ready to give it my all, but things didn't go as planned. Now, it's all about healing and coming back even stronger in 2025. 

“Huge thanks and warmest wishes to everyone I've met here in Hong Kong, you’ve made me feel so at home, as always.

“Looking forward to coming back and seeing you all again soon!”

Sun had hoped to play at the Wuhan Open in early October, but also had to pull out of that tournament without playing a match because of injury.

Sun has played just one match since late August, at the China Open, one month after picking up an injury at the US Open.

Sun’s withdrawal from the Hong Kong Open brings the curtain down on a remarkable year for her.

It started in Auckland, ranked 214 in the world, where she came through qualifying to make it into the second round of the main draw. At Wimbledon she won seven matches in a row to reach the quarterfinals from the qualifying draw.

Sun went on to play in the final of the WTA 500 tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, in August but since then injury meant she’s rarely played.

However, it’s been a life changing season for the 23-year-old from Te Anau and taking some time to fully recover from her injury could help make 2025 an even bigger year for her.