A DOMINANT display from New Zealand 2024 big improver Lulu Sun was the standout result from day one of the 2025 WTA Abu Dhabi Open. The Kiwi-born – but has represented Switzerland and even Croatia prior – completely dismantled French wildcard and former Top 5 player Caroline Garcia 6-1 6-3 in 77 minutes to snap a seven-game losing streak.

Sun whacked 18 winners to only 16 unforced errors, compared to a wildly inconsistent Garcia (15 winners, 34 unforced errors) in the match. The New Zealander had a lower first serve percentage (54 to 64 per cent), but was able to win 22 of 28 points (79 per cent) off her first serve, and convert five breaks from eight chances. On the other hand, Garcia could only make one of four break point opportunities count.

Last year’s WTA Newcomer of the Year – shooting up 179 places from 219th to 40th through the calendar year – Sun has been a rare tennis highlight for New Zealand fans, with few other singles players representing the nation. However she stamped her ticket into the WTA 500 Round of 16 with the comprehensive win.

Sun will take on the winner of eighth seed Leylah Fernandez and lucky loser Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, who face off tonight in the quarter finals.

The biggest upset of the day was Russian lucky loser Veronika Kudermetova defeating compatriot and fifth seed Liudmila Samsonova. In a three-set battle, the older of the Kudermetova sisters and former Top 10 player came back from a set down to win 5-7 6-1 7-6 in a nail-biting deciding tiebreak.

In other results, Japanese teenager Wakana Sonobe continued her ripping form that saw her win the 2025 Australian Open Junior Girls title by taking down China’s Yue Yuan in straight sets, 6-4 6-3. Sonobe produced 42 winners to Yuan’s 14, while serving five aces and winning 81 and 63 per cent of her first and second serve points.

American Katie Volynets won her all-qualifier battle against Great Britain’s Sonay Kartal in a come-from-behind three-set victory 3-6 6-4 6-4, while in the all-United States clash, Ashlyn Krueger worked past qualifier McCartney Kessler, 6-3 6-7 6-3.

2025 ABU DHABI OPEN WTA 500 – ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[LL] Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) defeated [5] Liudmila Samsonova (RUS) 5-7 6-1 7-6
Lulu Sun (NZL) defeated [WC] Caroline Garcia (FRA) 6-1 6-3
[Q] Wakana Sonobe (JPN) defeated Yue Yuan (CHN) 6-4 6-3
Ashlyn Krueger (USA) defeatede [Q] McCartney Kessler (USA) 6-3 6-7 6-3
[Q] Katie Volynets (USA) defeated [Q] Sonny Kartal (GBR) 3-6 6-4 6-4

Looking to Romania and the Transylvania Open got underway in Cluj-Napoca. The sole seed in action was fourth seeded Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina who kicked off with a comprehensive 6-2 6-3 win over local hope and wildcard, Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Kalinina only made nine unforced errors to Ruse’s 26, while both players hit 18 winners. Kalinina also won 77 per cent of her first serve points and broke five times to one.

It was not a great day for the home fans as their top chance in Sorana Cirstea was stunned by Canadian qualifier Marina Stakusic in a topsy-turvy game, 6-1 1-6 6-4. Stakusic joined Dutchwoman Suzan Lamens, Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova and United States’ Caroline Dolehide in the Round of 16. The remaining Round of 32 matches take place tonight.

2025 TRANSYLVANIA OPEN WTA 250 – ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[4] Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) defeated [WC] Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROU) 6-2 6-3
Viktoriya Tomova (BUL) defeated Mayar Sherif (EGY) 3-6 6-4 6-1
Suzan Lamens (NED) defeated [Q] Anna Bondar (HUN) 7-6 7-6
Caroline Dolehide (USA) defeated [Q] Daria Snigur (UKR) 7-5 2-6 6-4
[Q] Marina Stakusic (CAN) defeated Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 6-1 1-6 6-4