Emma Raducanu suffers Wimbledon 4R exit after nasty fall against Lulu Sun, just 24 hours following controversial mixed doubles withdrawal
Emma Raducanu's 2024 Wimbledon campaign came to an end on Sunday after the Brit lost in the fourth round to qualifier Lulu Sun. Just 24 hours earlier, Raducanu had controversially withdrawn from mixed doubles, where she was supposed to partner Andy Murray in his final match at SW19.
Under the roof on Center Court, Raducanu got off to the worst start possible, losing her first two service games to fall 3-0 behind. Although she found her feet slowly as the match progressed, it was not enough to salvage the opening set, which went 6-2 to Sun.
The second set was a far more even affair, with both players holding serve until 5-5. At 5*-6, with the New Zealand player serving to stay in the set, Raducanu turned the tide, converting her second set point to snatch it 7-5.
With all to play for in the decider, Raducanu had a nasty fall in the opening game and had to undergo a medical time-out on the court. Although she resumed action soon, her first service game ended in a break, handing Sun an early 2-0 lead.
From there, the 23-year-old consolidated to make it 4-2, following which a second break of serve gave her a 5-2 lead and a chance to serve for the match. Lulu Sun managed to do that without nerves on her very first attempt, closing out the set 6-2, and with it the match, after more than two hours and 40 minutes of play.
On Saturday, mere hours before her scheduled mixed doubles clash, Raducanu announced her withdrawal, citing soreness in her wrists. The decision was met with shock from tennis fans, which was made worse when Murray's mother Judy seemingly took a dig at the former US Open champion for the last-minute decision.
However, after a lot of criticism, Judy Murray clarified her original statements, stating that she was being sarcastic and that the scheduling by Wimbledon was more likely to blame for Raducanu's withdrawal.
Lulu Sun to take on Donna Vekic in Wimbledon 2024 quarterfinals after Emma Raducanu win
Following the win over Emma Raducanu, Lulu Sun will next take on Donna Vekic in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. Vekic also played a three-setter in the fourth round, coming from behind to beat former World No. 2 Paula Badosa. The Croat has reached the quarterfinals at SW19 for the first time.
The winner of the clash will take on either seventh seed Jasmine Paolini or one of Emma Navarro and Coco Gauff in the semifinals. In the top of the draw, World No. 4 Elena Rybakina is now the favorite to reach the final following the exit of World No. 1 Iga Swiatek.