Elise Mertens outclassed Lulu Sun to reach the US Open third round, defeating the Kiwi 6-2 6-3 on No 5 court after Sun had opened the tournament with an upset over Camila Osorio.
The match started with a stinging blow for Sun, who found herself down 4-0 early as Mertens imposed control with precise serving and sharp groundstrokes. Sun steadied her game later in the first set, showing flashes of the form that carried her past Osorio, but Mertens built too big a cushion to surrender.
In the second set, Mertens grabbed the early advantage again, breaking Sun in the opening stages and extending her lead as the Kiwi battled to turn the tide. Sun fought hard, but Mertens held firm, sealing the win and moving on to the next round.
Sun’s run in New York has yielded a notable ranking boost; if the rest of the grand slams go as hoped, she’s projected to climb to around the 140 mark. That surge will come with a caveat, however: she’s likely to rely on ITF events and lower-level WTA tournaments in the near term to rebuild momentum and consistency.
If Sun can carry the current momentum into the tail end of the season, there is a realistic pathway back into main-draw contention for the Australian Open in January. For now, the immediate focus will be on refining her game and gathering match practice to accelerate her climb back up the rankings.
What this means for Sun
– A strong first-round win showed her potential against top-20 competition, but the second-round result underscores the challenge of sustaining form across contrasting surfaces and formats.
– The coming months will be crucial for her rhythm, confidence, and ranking trajectory as she blends ITF events with any opportunities at WTA level.
Summary: Mertens’ steady performance halted Sun’s upset bid in straight sets, a result that keeps the Belgian on course in the tournament while pushing Sun to navigate a path back up the rankings with a busy immediate schedule ahead.