Lulu Sun To Take Time Away From Competition

New Zealand No. 1 Lulu Sun has announced she will take some time away from professional competition to prioritise her wellbeing and enjoy life away from the demands of the tennis court.

Sun said the decision will give her an opportunity to step away from the pressures of competition, reset and prepare for what comes next.

The WTA Tour is one of the most demanding environments in professional sport. Players spend much of the year travelling around the world, balancing training, competition, recovery, media commitments and the expectations that come with competing at the highest level.

For Sun, that journey has included some extraordinary highs. Her breakthrough run to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in 2024 threw her into the limelight, while her performances on the WTA Tour have seen her compete against the very best players in the world.

However, with a range of injury concerns, finding consistency and confidence to continue to perform at the highest level is a difficult challenge.

Tennis New Zealand is incredibly proud of everything Sun has achieved for New Zealand, and will continue to support her as she takes the time she needs.

We look forward to seeing Lulu back on court when she is ready - but, more importantly, we hope she enjoys the opportunity to rest, reset and spend time enjoying life beyond tennis.

Sun shared the following message with her supporters on instagram:

“I wanted to take a bit of your time to share something personal with you...

“In professional tennis, as in life, there is constant pressure to perfect oneself. The physical and mental demands of a competition schedule are relentless and can impact your life in more ways than one.

“With that in mind, I have decided to take some time away from competition to give myself a little space for my wellbeing and to enjoy life beyond the tennis court. It will give me the opportunity to step away from the demands of competition, reset and prepare for what’s ahead.

“I find it hard to express how deeply appreciative I am to all my team members, friends, family and fans for all their continuous belief in me. Your support and kindness means everything. I am also truly grateful for my sponsors who I’d like to thank for their continuous trust and patronage, and for being an important part of my journey.”