A qualifier miracle unfolds again as Lulu Sun easily takes the court in China

On October 26th Beijing time, the 2025 WTA250 Guangzhou women's singles final wrapped up, where Lulu Sun, a New Zealand Chinese player who emerged from the qualifiers, earned the runner-up spot. Although she missed out on her first career title, Lulu’s performance this week was impressive; after coming through qualifying, she defeated the top seed Bouchard in the first round, then went on to beat Chinese star Wang Yafan, American powerhouse McNally, and Chinese-descended player Liu Jingwen, marking the second time in her career she reached a WTA singles final.

In the second half of last year, Lulu Sun shone brightly on the WTA Tour. She qualified at Wimbledon, defeating strong players such as Zheng Qinwen, Zhu Lin, and Raducanu to reach the quarterfinals, then went on to finish runner-up at the WTA500 Monterrey event. Her world ranking soared from No.214 at the start of the year to No.40 by year-end, earning her the WTA 2024 Rookie of the Year award.

Riding on the success of 2024, Lulu Sun had high hopes for 2025, but reality dealt her a tough blow. In the first three months of this season, she managed only 3 wins against 10 losses. Her performance on clay and grass courts showed no improvement, and after consecutive heavy losses, her world ranking slipped out of the top 100, reaching a low of No.164. This drop prevented her from entering high-level tournaments during the China season, leading her to compete consecutively in three WTA125 events in Jingshan, Suzhou, and Jinan.

For Lulu Sun, the goal during this year’s China season was clear: she needed to earn enough ranking points to improve her position and gain direct entry into next year’s Australian Open main draw. At the first stop in Jingshan, Lulu found her form, winning five consecutive matches to claim the title; after upsetting top seed Jovic in Suzhou’s first round, she unexpectedly lost in the second round; in Jinan, she adjusted her form in time to reach the semifinals. Before the WTA250 Guangzhou event began, Lulu’s world ranking had risen to No.116. Although she had to start from the qualifiers, she seized the opportunity with her skill.

By securing the runner-up position, earning 181 ranking points and $23,684 in prize money, Lulu Sun’s world ranking jumped to No.87, returning her to the top 100. This also means she successfully secured a spot in the main draw of next year’s Australian Open after just four tournaments in the China season. “I really did it, but I can’t say I’m relaxing because every match comes with different kinds of pressure, and I think I’ve learned to handle it well. During my time competing in China, I’m happy to have improved in this area,” she said.

Lulu Sun’s mother is from Nanchang, China, while Lulu was born on New Zealand’s South Island and once lived briefly in Shanghai. Growing up in a multicultural environment, Lulu is fluent in English, French, and Chinese. Speaking in Mandarin about her strong performance this China season, Lulu said, “At the start of this year, I wasn’t playing well and lost many times, so I didn’t believe in myself. But when I came to China, I relaxed a lot here, and I just wanted to show everyone my best tennis.”

Lulu Sun’s powerful and heavy baseline shots are difficult for most female players to handle, and her left-handed spin adds unique angles and placement options. With the synergy of the YONEX EZONE 100 racquet and POLYTOUR STRIKE125 strings, Lulu’s distinctive playing style has emerged strongly during this China season. This shy and humble Chinese-descended player has returned to the spotlight thanks to her excellent results on court.

Although she has achieved the goal of qualifying for the Australian Open, Lulu knows she has not yet reached her limit. Whether it is fighting for her first career title or chasing a higher world ranking, she is determined to give her all: “I need to give my best again; tomorrow is another day to work hard.”

(Photo: Visual China)