Lulu Sun has made New Zealand tennis history – and she shares it with a Kiwi tennis icon.
In 1959, Māori tennis legend Dame Ruia Morrison made it through to the fourth round of Wimbledon – the best result for a Kiwi woman at the All England Tennis club.
Sixty-five years on, she has company after the 23-year-old became just the second Kiwi to make it through to the round of 16 at Wimbledon.
"That is something that definitely doesn't comes by often," Sun said.
"I wasn't expecting to be here at this stage. I've just been playing match by match and yeah, here I am."
Morrison – a 13-time New Zealand singles champion and who made the fourth round of Wimbledon in 1957 and 1959 – burst with pride as she spoke about Sun's run at Wimbledon so far.
"I'm absolutely stoked that we have still got someone playing at Wimbledon from New Zealand. They are doing so well – it's lovely," Morrison told 1News.
When asked what it meant to share the Wimbledon milestone with Sun, Morrison said it was "wonderful – absolutely wonderful".
"I don't feel lonely anymore."
Sun is now the second Kiwi to make it through to the round of 16 at Wimbledon.
Last week, while Sun was playing in the qualifiers for Wimbledon, she saved a match point on her way to qualifying for the main draw.
Earlier in the week, her best Grand Slam achievement was winning a match in a major – now she's headed into the second week.
And it doesn't get much bigger than a showdown with 2021 US Open winner and hometown favourite Emma Raducanu on centre court.
"I would be super happy to have that opportunity – such a great athlete. She's obviously been far in the Grand Slams before, playing on centre court and playing against her is an opportunity I'd be super happy with," Sun said.
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Raducanu comes into the fourth round clash having beaten ninth seed Maria Sakari in straight sets.
"I played in juniors with [Sun]; I know she's a tough competitor. You don't qualify and make the fourth [round] if you're not extremely dangerous," Raducanu said.
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