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Success for Kiwi tennis players in UK

Updated: Jun 29

New Zealand's Lulu Sun has qualified for the main draw at Wimbledon
Lulu Sun celebrates winning her third round qualifying match to make the main draw of Wimbledon. PHOTO: LULU SUN/INSTAGRAM

New Zealand's Lulu Sun has qualified for Wimbledon after in a tough straight set win in the third round of qualifying.


The 23-year-old from Te Anau defeated Alexandra Eala (Philippines) 7-6(3) 7-5 in the final round of qualifying in Roehampton to make the main draw where she will also receive big prizemoney and significant WTA ranking points which will take her closer to the top 100.


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The last time a New Zealander made their way through qualifying was Marina Erakovic in 2017.


Left-handed Sun never had things her own way in the match against talented teen Eala who had previously been one of the world's top juniors a couple of years earlier.


The Philippines player broke Sun in the fifth game to go ahead 5-2 and was up 40-15 and 5-3, however the kiwi rallied back to get into a wining position for the set before initially struggling to close it out.


Eventually Sun won the tiebreak after a fast start and some big winners.


In the second set Sun was broken in the first game, but returned the favour in the fourth. Sun held to love to make the score 5-5 and then broke her opponent to then serve out the match in a time of


The Kiwi was broken in the opening game of the next set, but Eala double-faulted at break point in the fourth game to get the match back on level terms.


The pressure built as the set continued, but it was Eala who showed more signs of one hour 40 minuts.


Meanwhile at the ATP tournament in Eastbourne Michael Venus and Britain's Neal Skupski have extended their winning streak to seven matches, with a semifinal victory.


Venus and Skupski beat second seeds Marcelo Arevalo from Argentina and Croatia’s Mate Pavic 6-7(5) 6-2 10-8 to reach the final.


Also at Eastbourne in the WTA event  New Zealand's world No 3 Erin Routliffe and Canadian doubles partner Gabby Dabrowski will play their semifinal against Cristina Bucsa (Spain) and Japan’s Makoto Ninomiya.

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