On July 5th, local time, in the third round of the 2024 Wimbledon Women’s Singles, New Zealand’s Chinese-American player Sun LuLu, who emerged from the qualifiers, defeated China’s Zheng Qinwen with a 7-6(4)/7-6(6) victory, advancing to the Round of 16 in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in her career. After the match, she answered journalists’ questions in Chinese, discussing her connection to China.
Regarding the match, Sun said, “I think she (Zhu Lin) is really strong. I felt today was a new opportunity, so I had no pressure. I gave it my all and tried my best.”
When asked about Chinese athletes she admires, Sun mentioned a track and field athlete, Wu Yanan. “The first time I saw her, I thought she was so beautiful!” She also expressed admiration for Wang Xinyu and Wang Xiyu, stating that they are both very strong.
In addition, Sun shared her love for Chinese TV dramas. “My mom loves watching Wu Lei and Wang Yibo, so we’ve been watching their dramas. My mom even comments on how handsome they are while watching… I tell her to calm down a bit.”
Sun has personal accounts on social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu and Weibo in China. Despite eliminating two Chinese players, Zheng Qinwen and Zhu Lin, during her Wimbledon journey, she still receives support from many Chinese fans. In response, Sun expressed her gratitude: “Thank you all for your support and encouragement. I’ll keep working hard and doing my best. I love you all.”
(Written and edited by Dato, interview by Felix)