Updated2. January 2024, 11:25 p.m.
Tennis: Geneva’s Lulu Sun was courted by New Zealand
The dual Swiss and New Zealand national, based in Geneva, could play for her country of birth. She was approached on the sidelines of the Auckland tournament. But she should choose to play for Switzerland.
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Renaud Tschoumy
Lulu Sun should end up choosing her country of residence rather than her country of birth.
Getty
Lulu Sun (22 years old) is having a very good start to the year. Currently ranked 214th in the world, she has just qualified for the WTA 250 tournament in Auckland, and subsequently qualified for the round of 16 of the New Zealand tournament by beating on Monday night this Tuesday the American McCartney Kessler. A result which ensures her return to the WTA top 200 in the next ranking.
First known as Lulu Radovcic, Lulu Sun was born on April 14, 2001 in New Zealand, in Te Anau (in Southland) to be precise. Her parents having moved to Geneva when she was a child, Lulu Sun studied in Switzerland. She also represented Switzerland in junior competitions. And it is under the Swiss banner that it is registered with the WTA.
But due to her birth in the land of kiwis, she is also eligible for New Zealand. And she confirmed on the sidelines of the Auckland tournament that contacts had taken place with the New Zealand Federation. “Yes, it’s true, it’s a possibility that exists and we are discussing it,” she told the New Zealand site nzherald. She added: “It’s not an easy choice to make. I’m thinking about it, and I hope we can find a positive outcome.”
On the New Zealand side, there seems to be pressure for Lulu Sun to decide to play for her country of birth, rather than for her country of residence, while admitting that Swiss Tennis has greater financial resources.
“As a coach, and given Lulu’s potential, I would like her to choose Switzerland.”
Heinz Günthardt, captain and coach of the Billie Jean King Cup team
And what do Swiss Tennis think? Heinz Günthardt, captain and coach of the Billie Jean King Cup team, refers to the elite head of the Federation, Alessandro Greco. “He’s the one who takes care of the discussions with Lulu’s parents,” he explains. But it goes without saying that as a coach, and given Lulu’s potential, I would like her to choose Switzerland.”
Contacted, Alessandro Greco responded by SMS that he did not yet wish to make many comments on this subject, specifying that he wanted to have “all the information” before speaking. He nevertheless specified that he had had a telephone meeting with the player and her father.
“I just had Lulu and her father on the phone,” he explained this Tuesday early in the evening. She was in fact contacted by the New Zealand Federation, which made her an offer. But it’s a proposition she’s not going to accept. She wanted to be polite and listen to what New Zealanders had to say to her, that’s all. For us, Lulu will continue to play for Switzerland.
Case apparently closed.
2024-01-02 22:25:11
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