Sun shines bright in China: Lulu Sun comes out victorious in the Jingsham Open

Former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Lulu Sun has won the WTA 125 Jinghsan Open, defeating home-favourite Ma Ye-Xin 6-4, 6-2 for her highest-ranking title to-date.

The New Zealander went into the event as the number three seed. She defeated Tyra Caterina Grant, Ru Xi Wu, and Elena Pridankina without dropping a set, before overcoming the number one seed and favourite for the tournament Alexandra Eala in a brilliant comeback win.

She collects $22,730 in prize money and will rise around 20 places into the top 130 in the rankings.

Sun came into the final as the favourite to win the match, but not the favourite on the court, with the Chinese fans urging on their player. Unfortunately for them and Ma, Sun broke to love in the first game, seizing the advantage. Later on, Sun had the chance to go 5-2 ahead, but failed to take any of the four break points she mustered up in that game, before being broken to send the score level at 4-4.

Sun showed grit and determination to break straight back, taking her third break point, and comfortably served the set out to edge in front.

It was much more routine for the 24-year-old in the second set, as she stormed out to a 4-0 lead, being offered and clinically claiming the two break points she earned. At 5-2, Ma had a single chance to break and prolong the tie, but she was unable to take it, as Sun clinched her first match point to win the title, with her filled with joy and jubilation.

Sun is on a mission to rise back up the rankings after suffering a stark decline in 2025. It was a breakout year for her last year, qualifying for her first WTA 1000 events, and famously going on a deep run at Wimbledon, where she claimed her first top 10 win over number eight seed Zheng Qinwen. It was also her first win at a Grand Slam event.

She followed that up with victories over Yuliia Starodubtseva and Zhu Lin, before upsetting the British home support with a three-set victory over Emma Raducanu. In the quarter-finals, she led Donna Vekic but was pegged back. Sun kept up her progress by making the WTA 500 Monterrey Open final, where she was defeated by Linda Noskova.

2025 has not seen a replica of last year. Despite reaching a highest rank of 39 in the world, she has tumbled down outside the top 140 before this event. She will be hoping that this title brings a change of fortune to the court, starting in the Suzhou Open, where she faces a tough test in the form of number one seed Iva Jovic, the 17-year-old talent from the United States.