Lulu Sun announced in a social media post Friday night that she was taking a break from tennis due to the “relentless” demands of the competition.
“In professional tennis, as in life, there is constant pressure to perfect oneself.” She wrote on Instagram. “The physical and emotional demands of a competition schedule are relentless and can impact your life in more ways than one.”
Ranked New Zealand’s number one women’s tennis player, Sun said she wants to enjoy life beyond the courts.
“With that in mind, I have decided to take some time away from the competition to give myself a little space for my wellbeing.
“It will give me the opportunity to step away from the demand of competition, reset and prepare for what’s ahead.”
The 25-year-old reached the Wimbledon quarter-final in 2024, becoming the first NZ singles player to reach the final eight of the Grand Slam tournament since 1983.
This January, she was forced to withdraw from the ASB Classic in Auckland due to a wrist injury.
Sun ended the post with a thank you to her supporters.
“I find it hard to express how deeply appreciative I am to all my team members, friends, family and fans for 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.”