Sun loses tight match against Kostyuk at Olympics

Photo Credit: ITF images via Dubreuil/Kopatsch/Zimmer

Lulu Sun put up a good fight in her 6-4 6-3 loss to No 12 seed Marta Kostyuk from Ukraine in their first-round match at the Olympics on Sunday.

Sun had spent two weeks focusing on playing doubles at the Paris Games with Erin Routliffe but was given an unexpected opportunity to play singles when Yulia Putintseva pulled out with a knee injury on Saturday.

Despite the short notice, Sun put up a good battle against the world No 19, showing that her incredible run at Wimbledon this month wasn’t a fluke and that she belongs at this level.

Sun started the match in her usual aggressive way, getting out to a 4-2 lead in the opening set, but Kostyuk, who has more experience at this level, won the next four games to take the opening set.

In the second, the Ukrainian went out to a 4-0 lead and although Sun was unable to make a fight back, breaking her opponent, she wasn’t able to salvage the set.

Sun was due on court again later on Sunday for her first-round match in the women’s doubles, where she and Routliffe take on the Italian No 3 seeds, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini.

However, this match has again been postponed and will be played on Monday.