Tennis NZ » Lulu Sun’s run at US Open comes to an end

Lulu Sun has lost in the second round of the US Open, going down to 19th seed Elise Mertens 6-2 6-3.

Having had an impressive win over Camila Osorio from Colombia in the first round, Sun wasn’t able to back that up against the Belgian.

It was a nervy start from the 24-year-old Kiwi on No 5 court as Mertens went out to a 4-0 lead at the beginning of the match.

Sun was able to find her form over the remainder of the set, serving well and crushing forehand winners, but Mertens had too big a lead by that stage. 

Mertens got another break in the opening game of the second set, and she kept hold of that lead, breaking the Kiwi again when she was serving at 3-5.

Having won her first round match in New York, Sun will get a rankings boost and is predicted to be around 140 in the world, depending on how the rest of the Grand Slam goes. 

She will have to drop down to playing ITF and lower-level WTA tournaments for the next couple of months.

But if Sun can have a strong end to the season, which her current form suggests she could, then she should be able to get her ranking high enough to make it into the main draw for the Australian Open in January.

Lulu Sun US Open exit, Lulu Sun US Open exit