Sun’s brave Guangzhou run ends in final defeat to Li

Lulu Sun’s gutsy run at the Guangzhou Open in China has ended, as the New Zealander was beaten by American second seed Ann Li in Sunday’s final.

Li won 7-6 (6) 6-2 in one hour 41 minutes, denying Sun a place in the record books as she attempted to become the first Kiwi to win a WTA Tour-level singles title since Marina Erakovic triumphed in Memphis in 2013.

For Sun, it was still a week to savour. The 24-year-old qualifier from Te Anau played six matches across the tournament, spending more than eight and a half hours on court and defeating four higher-ranked opponents, including top seed Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, to reach her second career WTA final.

Despite this loss, Sun should jump up from 116 to 87 in the world rankings, securing her a spot in the main draw at January’s Australian Open.

The opening set of this final was a tense, high-quality contest decided only by the smallest of margins. Sun had a break point in the third game but went wide with a forehand cross-court, missing a rare early chance.

Li created pressure of her own in the following game, only for Sun to fend it off with a booming ace and hold serve. The Kiwi had two more break opportunities with Li serving at 3-3 but couldn’t convert either of them.

At 5-6, Sun double-faulted to give the American two set points, but each time she fought her way clear. Firstly when Li sent a backhand slice wide and then with a solid first serve that forced an error. Another huge delivery saved a third set point and pushed the contest into a tiebreak.

When the score reached 5-5 in the breaker, Li rifled a forehand passing shot to earn her fifth set point, which Sun again saved. But after the players changed ends, Li produced another strong return to bring up a sixth. 

Sun appeared poised to level when she moved forward to finish a backhand volley, but she mistimed it and the ball flew out, with the opening set slipping away by the narrowest margin.

Li broke immediately to open the second set and consolidated with a confident hold. By the time Li moved 3-0 ahead, the match was slipping from Sun’s control, yet the New Zealander refused to fade. 

She stayed composed on serve, worked the rallies, and continued to look for ways to extend exchanges against one of the most improved players on the Tour this year.

Serving for the title at 5-2, Li raced to 40-0. Sun saved one championship point, but on the second, her return drifted just long.

Despite the loss, it’s been a great week for Sun, winning six matches in Guangzhou. 

Her wait for a maiden tour title goes on, but this was another display of the grit, precision, and composure from Sun.

“Congrats to Ann,” Sun said during the trophy presentation. 

"She was obviously the greater player today, and she's had an amazing season as well. 

“It was a very positive week for me, nonetheless. It was wonderful atmosphere, wonderful people and organisation as well. So even though today is a little bit disappointing, I'm pretty happy with my week.”

There will be little time for Sun to dwell on this result, as she is playing in Chennai, India next week and has been drawn against a qualifier in the opening round.