Emma Raducanu knocked out of Wimbledon by Lulu Sun after slipping on Centre Court – BBC Sport

Emma Raducanu is out of Wimbledon after being hampered by a back injury in the deciding set of her fourth-round match against New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun.

The British wildcard, 21, lost 6-2 5-7 6-2 in a dramatic contest on Centre Court.

Raducanu had levelled the match and regained some confidence after a stunning performance from an inspired Sun.

Then Raducanu slipped on the baseline in the first game of the third set.

The 2021 US Open champion stayed down on the grass and shook her head before getting back to her feet.

The game was stopped at 15-30 on Raducanu’s serve and she received treatment – on her hip and back – while laid out on the court.

A roar of encouragement greeted Raducanu when it became clear she would carry on.

However, she gingerly lost serve immediately and could not recover the break.

Her movement during points improved, despite clasping her back between games, but was broken again for 5-2 and could not take either of two break points before Sun served out on her second match point.

It means the world number 135 missed out on reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time in her career.

Raducanu’s exit means there are no British players left in the singles draws at the All England Club.

Optimism had been rapidly building around Raducanu after she confidently breezed through her opening three matches without dropping a set.

But a confident Sun, who had never won a main-draw match at a Grand Slam until this tournament, demonstrated the powerful game which has seen her break new ground.

The quality of her performance disrupted the 2021 US Open champion and deflated an expectant home crowd.

Raducanu’s defeat came a day after she pulled out of a planned mixed doubles appearance alongside fellow Briton Andy Murray, citing “stiffness” in her right wrist.

Even though it was a sensible precaution having needed surgery on the same wrist last year, the move led to some criticism of her given it denied Murray the chance to play again in his Wimbledon farewell.

Sun, 23, was overcome by emotion after reaching the last eight in only the second Grand Slam main-draw appearance of her career.

She had never won at a major until beating Chinese eighth seed Zheng Qinwen in a first-round shock which kickstarted this stunning run.

“I had to fight tooth and nail because Emma will still run for every ball and fight until the end,” she said.

“I don’t have the words right now.”

Now Sun will face Croatia’s Donna Vekic, ranked 37th in the world, for a place in the semi-finals.