Pictures: Kellie Blizard. Lulu wears Rodd & Gunn.
If you spot breakout tennis star Lulu Sun taking a stroll along a Kiwi beach this summer, chances are she’ll be staring out at the ocean. But the WTA Tour’s Newcomer of the Year winner won’t be contemplating her sporting future – Lulu Sun will be thinking about the future of the planet, particularly our oceans, while looking out for rubbish to pick up.
After making a spectacular rise through the world tennis rankings in the past year, from outside the top 200 to number 40, Lulu Sun is back home in New Zealand to play in the ASB Classic in Auckland.
The fourth seed at the tournament, Lulu Sun is certain to have the crowd behind her since switching her allegiance from Switzerland to New Zealand, the nation where she was born. And now she wants to give back to the country by helping take care of its coastlines.
While in Auckland over January, Lulu plans to complete Litter Intelligence training through her new partnership with Sustainable Coastlines. A Kiwi charity trying to reduce plastic pollution and other rubbish in our seas and on our beaches.
“It’s a big issue that affects us all,” says Lulu. She studied environmental science and technology while completing her degree in international relations at the University of Texas. “Since a young age, I’ve always been curious about sustainability and the environment. So I was pretty keen to collaborate with someone in New Zealand to focus on that issue. And I love to learn new things.”
Born in Te Anau but having grown up in Shanghai and Geneva. Lulu, 23, has spent more time around lakes than the coast. “Usually when I’m travelling and playing on the tour, the tournaments aren’t near the beach. But I do like to spend time by the ocean,” she says.
The Litter Intelligence training will make Lulu a “citizen scientist”. Collecting data on how much rubbish is clogging New Zealand’s marine environment.
“It’s actually Aotearoa’s first national litter database, which is pretty cool,” she explains. “It focuses on the litter in our waters and all this information we collect will help people in New Zealand. And eventually around the world, to paint a picture of where the litter is and what it’s doing.”
Lulu says life hasn’t changed dramatically since she took the tennis world by storm in July. Showing tremendous tenacity and grit to advance from qualifying to become the first Kiwi woman to reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.
She followed it up by playing doubles at the Paris Olympics with fellow Kiwi star Erin Routliffe. Then reached her first WTA Tour final in Monterrey, Mexico, which saw her peak at a world ranking of 39. Impressive for a player whose goal was to simply make the top 100 in 2024.
“Life’s the same in a way,” Lulu smiles. “I’m still travelling to tournaments, I’m still training, and I’m still going through what I do before and after matches. But I’m doing more interviews and different things outside of tennis. The tennis is almost the same, except now on a higher level.”
Lulu was disappointed to miss the end of the WTA season. Pulling out of the Hong Kong Open in October with a wrist injury. She was also forced out of the first round of her US Open debut with a hip problem.
“I’ve played a lot of matches, so it kind of accumulated,” she says of her injury streak. “But now I’m all better and I’ve been training normally again.” She’s excited her first tournament back will be in Auckland. It is where she came through qualifying last year to make it to the second round of the main draw of the ASB Classic.
Lulu recalls, “I really loved the atmosphere there. The organisation of the tournament and everything was really enjoyable. And the food and coffee shops in Auckland were great!” As well as having her family in the stands. Lulu hopes the Kiwi crowd will get behind her and help lift her game. But winning the prestigious Newcomer of the Year honour at the WTA Player Awards has also given her confidence a boost.
“I was really honoured and grateful to be chosen. Especially out of all those athletes who also did really well,” she tells. “It was amazing, but I know I have to keep working and improving, and keep pushing to keep moving forward.”
Her goals for 2025 are to rise even higher up the world rankings. As well as to win a tournament on the tour. “I was close this year, but not quite, so that would be very cool,” she says. And, of course, she wants to play her part in Sustainable Coastlines’ goal. Their goal is to halve the amount of rubbish on Aotearoa’s shores in the next five years.
To get involved with Sustainable Coastlines or to donate, visit sustainablecoastlines.org. For more info on the ASB Classic or for tickets, go to asbclassic.co.nz.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
