Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon Journey Ends Abruptly in Loss to Lulu Sun

Emma Raducanu's bid for a second Wimbledon title ended in the second round with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 defeat to New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun on Centre Court.

Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon title defense came to a disappointing end on Sunday, as she was defeated by New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun in the second round. Despite a promising start to the match, Raducanu ultimately succumbed to Sun's consistent and aggressive play, losing in straight sets.

The match began with Raducanu looking sharp and composed. She broke Sun's serve in the opening game and held her own serve confidently. However, Sun gradually began to find her rhythm and started to put pressure on Raducanu's serve. The New Zealander broke back in the fourth game and then held her serve to level the set at 2-2.

Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon Journey Ends Abruptly in Loss to Lulu Sun

From that point on, Sun took control of the set, winning four games in a row to take the opener 6-2. Raducanu looked frustrated and out of sorts, unable to find her usual power and accuracy.

In the second set, Raducanu showed more resilience and determination. She broke Sun's serve in the third game and held her own serve to take a 2-1 lead. Sun, however, refused to go down without a fight. She broke back in the sixth game and held her serve to level the set at 3-3.

The set continued to be a close affair, with both players holding their serves until the 12th game. Raducanu, serving to stay in the set, produced a remarkable comeback from 0-40 down to win the game and force a tie-breaker.

In the tie-breaker, Raducanu showed her fighting spirit once again. She recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win five consecutive points and take the tie-breaker 7-5. This gave her a vital lifeline in the match.

However, in the third set, Raducanu's momentum suddenly evaporated. Sun broke her serve in the opening game and held her own serve to take a 2-0 lead. Raducanu managed to break back in the third game, but Sun quickly regained her composure and broke back in the fifth game.

From that point on, Sun dominated the set, winning four consecutive games to seal the victory. Raducanu looked visibly disappointed and dejected as she left Centre Court, her Wimbledon dream over for another year.

Sun, on the other hand, was overjoyed with her victory. She had never previously reached the second round of a Grand Slam tournament and her win over Raducanu was a major upset. She will now face No. 17 seed Elena Rybakina in the third round.

Raducanu's defeat marks the end of a disappointing Wimbledon campaign for the British star. She had entered the tournament with high hopes of repeating her remarkable victory of last year, but her form has been inconsistent throughout the season.

Despite this setback, Raducanu remains a talented player with a bright future ahead of her. She will now have to regroup and focus on the rest of the season, which includes the US Open in late August.