Raducanu's dream ends: Incredible Lulu Sun silences Wimbledon crowd and advances to Quarterfinals

Lulu Sun (No. 123) continues her dream run after defeating Emma Raducanu (No. 135) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 at Wimbledon and is now into the quarterfinals. The New Zealander keeps making her way through the All England Club, becoming the first qualifier to reach the quarterfinals since Kaia Kanepi in 2010.

Sun has now achieved seven consecutive wins in SW19, considering the qualifying rounds. The 23-year-old surprised everyone in the first round by defeating the 8th seed Zheng Qinwen and has proven with each passing round that it was no fluke. Against Raducanu, she dominated with her serve and didn't seem fazed by her debut on Centre Court against the home favorite.

Unexpected clash in the Round of 16

An unexpected clash took place in the Round of 16, with two players outside the top 100 fighting for a spot in the quarterfinals. Both displayed a level of tennis worthy of the stage, providing a spectacle where they showcased their best. Sun had a blistering start, securing two consecutive breaks and advancing to 3-0 in just a few minutes.

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Raducanu responded by breaking back in the fourth game, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Sun played an all-or-nothing game, being much more aggressive than her opponent, hitting 15 winners compared to Raducanu's 2, and both players committed 10 unforced errors each. The New Zealander frequently approached the net for short points and secured another break in the 7th game, closing the set in her favor 6-2.

Sun didn't succumb to the pressure of Centre Court, which was fully supporting Raducanu, the only Briton to reach the fourth round in both the male and female draws. The second set was even more thrilling, with opportunities for both players in most games. In a match that often seemed more mental, both players saved multiple break points. Sun remained more aggressive with 21 winners and 22 unforced errors, against Raducanu's 9 winners and 6 unforced errors.

Emma Raducanu in Wimbledon.

It seemed the set would go to a tie-break, with neither player breaking the other's serve. However, Raducanu showed her mettle and, despite some back pain, broke in the 12th game, taking the set 7-5 and sending the match to a decider.

After the second set, both players took a brief toilet break. Upon returning, they played only a few points before Raducanu suffered a fall, requiring a medical timeout to treat her ankle and back. Unfortunately for the Brit, upon resuming, Lulu Sun secured the break that would lead to victory.

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The lefthanded showed no doubts with her serve for the rest of the set, maintained her aggressive game, and closed out the win 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. Sun totaled an incredible 52 winners and will now face Croatia's Donna Vekic in pursuit of an unexpected semifinal berth.

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