Sun seems to be a recent Kiwi. Her only ever appearance at a NZ tournament was at Auckland at the start of this year, where she played qualies - which would seem like rough treatment if she was considered to be their leading singles player at the time. She played for them in the BJK cup later in the spring, presumably after deciding that she was unlikely tp be selected for any of the several other teams she might have chosen.
So its not like she's been hanging around NZ, knocking a tennis ball against a wall while hoping a practice partner might turn up. She's been training in Switzerland and Slovakia, associated with a coaching stables that has produced numerous GS champs; previously was at American college; and her first tournaments were played in Spain, so presumably spent some time at a clay court academy as a youngster.
She won the Loughborough 50K in Feb, and has also beaten Hev twice and KB over the last year or so.
If by a recent Kiwi you mean born in New Zealand, sure.
Born there, to non-NZ parents, left as a very young child, and grew up in Switzerland, and played for Switzerland for all her career until a few months ago
What a semi-final that turned out to be after such an unpromising one-sided beginning. Who would have thought watching that opening set that we would witness the longest women's semi-final in Wimbledon history. Such a roller coaster, and incidents like that challenge by Jasmine to go 6-5 up in the 3rd set, it was called in it turned out to be 3 millimeters out, it certainly made for great television.
Donna Veki looked in some physical distress towards the end of the game, but it's hard to tell with Donna as she looked like she was going to burst into tears at any moment throughout the Lulu Sun quarter final, maybe D just has one of those faces that carry a natural look of distress.
The final set tie break fluctuated constantly until Vekic led 8-7 but it was Paolini who held her nerve to take the last 3 points and the place in Saturday's final.
Very pleased Barbora won. Great pair of semis and a very interesting final. I was a bit concerned Rybakina would come through and steamroll Jasmine in the final, this way it feels a much more even contest.
Worth noting, maybe, that the two finalists are both age 28
Love it when they keep the young guns waiting
And the funny thing is that 28 isn't so old in tennis these days.
It feels like Krejickova might be this year's spoiler as Vondrousova was last year. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy Krejickova's style of play and she has won Roland Garros, but there's a joy in Paolini's game that is really appealing to a wider audience.
Worth noting, maybe, that the two finalists are both age 28
Love it when they keep the young guns waiting
And the funny thing is that 28 isn't so old in tennis these days.
It feels like Krejickova might be this year's spoiler as Vondrousova was last year. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy Krejickova's style of play and she has won Roland Garros, but there's a joy in Paolini's game that is really appealing to a wider audience.
Yes. I think for the story, for the media, and for the neutrals, a Paolini victory would be better
As you say, Krej. seems a lovely person. Genuinely likeable. And with a funky game of tennis.
But there's been a lot of Czech winners
And Paolini has an infectious quality (and a family situation that covers a lot of bases, which is always interesting)
Barbora and Jasmine have only met once before. I'm sure that nobody who watched the first round in qualifying at the Australian Open in 2018 where Barbora won 6-2 6-1 would have realised that this was a future Wimbledon singles final.
Was sure this was going to a third set tie break until Krejcikova broke serve at 3 all. As soon as that happened Paolini was done for, 4 deuces in the final game notwithstanding. Paolini would have been the more popular winner undoubtedly but she left herself too much to do.