Emma Raducanu: Brit tumbles out of Wimbledon at hands of qualifier Lulu Sun | Tennis News

Emma Raducanu: Brit tumbles out of Wimbledon at hands of qualifier Lulu Sun | Tennis News


Wild card Emma Raducanu was shocked by qualifier Lulu Sun as her encouraging Wimbledon run came to a disappointing end in the fourth round on a gloomy Sunday.

The 21-year-old had inspired hopes of more US Open-style heroics by coming through her opening three matches without dropping a set.

But she looked nervous against powerful New Zealander Sun, the first qualifier to make the women’s singles quarter-finals here in 14 years, and, despite battling to force a deciding set, slumped to a 6-2 5-7 6-2 defeat.

History for Sun at Wimbledon

Lulu Sun is the second-lowest ranked (123) player in the last 15 editions of the tournament to make the women’s singles quarter-finals at the Championships – ranked higher only than Serena Williams in 2018 (181).

“It was a great match against her. She really dug deep in there to try and get the win from me,” said an emotional Sun.

“I had to fight tooth and nail against her… she was obviously going to run for every ball and fight until the end.

“I was looking around [Centre Court] and just taking it all in for the first time.

“I’m super happy to be able to play on this court in front of all of you. It was an amazing experience for me.”

Left-hander Sun, who had never won a Grand Slam main-draw match before this week and is now on a seven-match winning streak, racked up 52 winners compared with just 19 from Raducanu and will now face Donna Vekic for a place in the semi-finals.

It has not been a comfortable 24 hours for Raducanu, with the positive vibes from her three impressive wins given a hammering by her decision to deny Andy Murray a Wimbledon swansong by pulling out of their mixed doubles opener citing a stiff wrist.

She found herself the subject of unwanted headlines, with the social media contribution of Judy Murray – albeit subsequently claimed not to be a criticism of Raducanu – adding fuel to the fire.

The strapping on her right wrist that had been present in practice on Saturday was nowhere to be seen, and Raducanu looked happy and relaxed hitting with fellow British player Liam Broady ahead of the match.

But, from the start of the contest on Centre Court, the former US Open champion, who knows all too well what qualifiers can achieve, seemed anything but comfortable.

Her serve, which has been a key strength all tournament, was off and her groundstrokes lacked their usual fizz.

Sun, on the other hand, looked like playing on Centre Court was something she had been doing all her life, the 23-year-old crunching the ball and breaking the Raducanu serve – which the Briton had not dropped since the first round – twice to go 3-0 up.

Raducanu retrieved one of the breaks but her comeback was short-lived as Sun, who defeated eighth seed Zheng Qinwen in round one, powered her way to another break and then the set.

The Brit was under pressure again at the start of the second but this time managed to hold on to her serve, with Sun, ranked 123, putting a simple forehand volley long on break point at 1-1.

Raducanu then had two break points in the next game but was unable to change the momentum, missing two backhand returns off second serves.

She hung on again in the seventh game but at least produced some of her best tennis to save two more break points.

Raducanu’s efforts in keeping her nose in front on serve were rewarded at 5-6 when Sun tightened up a little, missing an overhead and then going long on the second set point.

However, the mood changed in the opening game of the third set when Raducanu slipped while hitting a forehand, sitting on the ground shaking her head before calling the trainer, who worked on her left hip, leg and back, which she had been periodically holding during the second set.

Raducanu underwent surgery on her left ankle last year, as well as both wrists, after slipping at a tournament in Auckland.

She restarted in confident fashion with an ace but looked a little uncertain in her movement and dropped serve. The crowd tried to inspire Raducanu into another fightback but a double fault cost her a second break at 2-4 and Sun clinched a deserved victory after two hours and 50 minutes.

Sun vs Raducanu: Tale of the Tape

Sun Match Stats Raducanu
4 Aces 4
4 Double Faults 2
69% 1st serve win percentage 54%
54% 2nd serve win percentage 53%
23/28 Net points won 3/7
5/13 Break points won 2/7
52 Total winners 19
44 Unforced errors 21
111 Total points won 95

Jonathan Overend says it was a good call by Emma Raducanu to pull out of the mixed doubles event with Andy Murray

Paolini reaches Wimbledon quarters after tearful Keys retires injured

Image:
Madison Keys was forced to retire injured against French Open runner-up Jasmine Paolini

French Open runner-up Jasmine Paolini reached the quarter-finals for the first time after a totally distraught Madison Keys was forced to call it quits at 5-5 in the third set with a suspected groin injury.

Playing under a closed Court One roof on yet another soggy day at the All England Club, Keys appeared to have one foot in the last eight when she went to serve for the match at 5-2 up the deciding set but clutched her left groin immediately after getting broken.

The American 12th seed called for the trainer one game later and limped off court for a medical time out before re-emerging with her left thigh heavily strapped.

Upon resumption, she started sobbing after netting a drop shot to fall 15-40 behind. Although the 29-year-old saved the first break point with a backhand winner, she was again in tears after surrendering her serve with a double fault.

Clearly struggling to even walk between points, Keys somehow conjured a lob to win the first point off Paolini’s next service game. But when she saw the next point whizz past her for an ace, she shook her head and signalled it was all over as she walked to the net to give her Italian opponent a tearful hug.

The Italian seventh seed had produced a stirring comeback from 5-1 down in the second set to force a tiebreak and the final score ended up being 6-3 6-7 (8-6) 5-5 in Paolini’s favour when a heartbroken Keys had to call it a day.

“I’m so sorry for her. To end the match like this it’s sad. We played a really good match. it was really tough, lots of up and downs. I feel a bit happy but also sad for her because it’s not easy to win like that,” Paolini, who had not won a Tour-level main draw match on grass before this year, told the crowd in a courtside interview.

“It was a rollercoaster. I started really well and was really focused on court but she’s a great champion and she raised her level so it was tough to return balls. I was repeating to myself stay in there. At the end I know she retired, but I’m here with the win.

“I hope you enjoyed the match,” added the 28-year-old after becoming the fifth Italian woman to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals in the professional era, equalling the country’s best result at the grasscourt major.

Paolini will next face either US Open champion Coco Gauff or American 19th seed Emma Navarro.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours

In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 – the US Open – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.

  • Hamburg Open (ATP 500) 15-21 July
  • Newport Hall of Fame Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Swiss Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Bastad Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
  • Palermo Ladies Open (WTA 250) 15-21 July
  • Hungarian Grand Prix (WTA 250) 15-21 July
  • Prague Open (WTA 250) 21-26 July

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.

Scotland’s T20 World Cup destiny in own hands with any upset win against Australia certain to knock out England | Cricket News

Scotland’s T20 World Cup destiny in own hands with any upset win against Australia certain to knock out England | Cricket News


Net run-rate has become an oft-used term over recent days as sides battle to qualify for the Super 8s at the T20 World Cup – but Scotland can render that irrelevant with one more win.

Should Richie Berrington’s team beat the mighty Australia in St Lucia on Sunday (1.30am UK and Ireland), they will qualify for the second round, even if England have dispatched Namibia hours earlier. A washout in either match will also see them through.

Scotland’s destiny is in their own hands but their task is a stiff one to carry off.

Image:
Scotland will qualify for the Super 8s if they beat Australia

Australia have not lost to a non-Test playing country in any form of World Cup cricket since being beaten by Zimbabwe in 1983, while they are three from three in this year’s showpiece after battling past Oman, easing past England and then thumping Namibia.

Scotland, who raced to 90-0 from 10 overs against England before their opening fixture was abandoned and then saw off Namibia and Oman, could be aided by Australia resting players ahead of the Super 8s, but Michael Jones wants a “full-strength” opponent.

‘These are the opportunities Scotland crave’

“At the end of the day our team wants the best result we can get, but on a personal level you want to challenge yourself against the best,” said Jones, who struck an unbeaten 45 from 30 balls against England in Barbados, including a six off Chris Jordan that smashed a solar panel.

Highlights from Barbados where Scotland’s George Munsey and Michael Jones impressed against England before their opening T20 World Cup clash was washed out

“To have the opportunity to bat against Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, then Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, that’s the best in the world.

“Those are the opportunities we crave as Scotland teams. You want to challenge yourself and see how far you go against those guys. I almost hope they go full strength and we can show the cricket world we’re up to the challenge.”

Talk of Australia manipulating the result to knock England out – something Cummins says would never happen despite team-mate Hazlewood’s jokey references about it earlier this week – has quietened since England overhauled Scotland’s net run-rate by annihilating Oman.

Sky Sports Cricket’s Ian Ward believes Josh Hazlewood’s suggestion that it would be in Australia’s ‘best interest’ for England to go out of the tournament at the group stage was ‘tongue in cheek’

Jones, speaking before England vs Oman, always felt Australia would play to their maximum, adding: “They are renowned for being extremely diligent and professional. I’m absolutely certain they will come out all guns blazing like they do for every game at every tournament.”

Scotland have certainly not taken a backward step.

Jones and George Munsey’s onslaught against England was followed by Berrington and Chris Leask playing the innings of note against Namibia and Munsey and Brandon McMullen then firing versus Oman – McMullen biffing 61 from 31 balls, with 11 boundaries.

Highlights from Scotland’s seven-wicket win over Oman in Antigua

Berrington’s side will need some more big performances against Australia if England do the job on Namibia, as expected, but the fact Scotland head into the final match with qualification still achievable is testament to their development. Time for one final push.

What’s next?

England play Namibia in Antigua from 6pm on Saturday (UK and Ireland time), with Scotland’s game against Australia in St Lucia starting at 1.30am on Sunday as Group B concludes.

Scotland's George Munsey and Michael Jones batting against England at T20 World Cup (Associated Press)
Image:
Scotland will welcome Australia to Edinburgh for three T20 internationals in September

Scotland have also announced they will host Australia for three T20sin Edinburgh on September 4, 6 and 7, with Berrington saying: “It’s fantastic to have this home series to look forward later in the summer, which should be a treat for all our supporters.

“Our players always relish the opportunity to test themselves against the best sides and we’ve shown good form in this World Cup so far, so I’m sure it’ll be an exciting and competitive series.”

Watch every match from the T20 World Cup, including the final in Barbados on Saturday June 29, live on Sky Sports.

Ad content | Stream Sky Sports on NOW

Stream Sky Sports live with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. Instant access to live action from the Premier League and EFL, plus darts, cricket, F1, tennis, golf and so much more.