July 8, 2024 • 8 mins
Kiwi tennis star Lulu Sun made New Zealand history by beating Britain's Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon - advancing to the quarter-finals.
1989 Aussie Open semi-finalist Belinda Cordwell joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Tennis History at Wimbledon Overnight. No, she has it and
know we see what it means because Luluson is living
the same dream that Radakano once DIDs. The qualifier moves
on through to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. Here,
Lulusan has continued her stunning run at Wimbledon. She is
(00:33):
the first New Zealand woman to make the quarterfinals at Wimbledon,
making her very first appearance on center court. Cool and
composed during her six ' to two, five seven, six '
two victory over British hometown favorite Emma Radicanu in a
match that lasted almost three hours. The last New Zealander
to reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon was Chris Lewis. He
(00:55):
went on to make the final in nineteen eighty three,
and the last time any New Zealander reached a Grand
Slam quarterfinal was in nineteen eighty nine, when Belinda cord
reached the quarters and then went on to the semifinals
at the Australian Open. Belinda Cordwell is with us on
sports Talk Great to get the chance to chat to you, Belinda,
(01:16):
Can you put into context how significant and achievement this
is the quarter finals of the women's singles at Wimbledon.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
It's pretty difficult to put it into context because it's
so huge. Really, I know we use that word a
lot in sport, but to look at a player that's
ranked one hundred and twenty three in the world, that's
come through the toughest qualifying in the world in terms
of Grand Slams, I mean playing qualifying at Roehampton in England,
which is a venue sort of down the road from Wimbledon,
(01:47):
and trying to get through three rounds of qualifying where
everybody wants to win. It's really really tough, and she
managed that achievement. So to get into the main draw
on that basis was an achievement in itself. And now
to be having a conversation about Lulu making the quarter
finals at Wimbledon is career changing for HER's and that's
(02:07):
not an understatement.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
How has this happened? What is it about her that
has allowed her and her game of tennis to get
her this far with, as I say, hopefully more to come.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Well, to be fair, she's got a bit of pedigree
in the game, and I you know, she became a
naturalized New Zealander in March this year. But there's been
a lot that's happened in her career today. I mean,
she was had a WTA ranking at fourteen, which is
really pretty unheard of. That's a very young age to
get such a ranking, and so has progressed from there,
(02:38):
you know, represented I think she represented Switzerland actually in
twenty eighteen at junior Wimbledon, or potentially New Zealand and
then switched to Switzerland and now back is represented New Zealand.
But she's certainly been around and played tennis through you know,
the last five to ten years, and also through in
(02:59):
Texas at the University of Texas where where she studied
as well. And so I think that where sort of
saying where has this come from? But I think gradually
she has been building her craft and building her career
over a number of years.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Today, how much confidence will her performances in the past
week give her.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Massive huge I mean you really only had to look
at the way she played at quarterfy sorry that to
get into the quarterfinals. I just think watching the confidence
to take a short ball and approach the net. She
came to the net nearly thirty times against Radicano, and
most of the women players are not that comfortable as
the net. So to see Lulu actually approaching the net
(03:38):
and taking the match to her opponent, to me if
it makes it feel like she's actually playing in a
really confident manner at the moment, And it's difficult not
to be so confident when you've won, you know, six
or seven matches at the tournament on such a world stage.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
She'll meet Croatian Donna Vacage next. She could win that,
couldn't she Blinda, how far could she potentially go?
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Yeah, she could definitely win the next match. And at
the moment, you know, you're down to the last eight,
so you've got to be saying, well, you know, I've
got some chances here. But I think the focus for
her team, and I think we've already read about it,
is around just taking one match at a time and
trying to stick to the same routine and the same
mindset that she's used all the way to the tournament.
(04:20):
So the challenge is sort of not to get over
excited because you're playing a quarter final. But if watching
her play this morning is anything to go by I
mean center court at Wimbledon, playing against a British home
time time favorite who has done so well historically, and
to not get overawed and over excited by that event,
(04:43):
you know, makes us feel really good about her next
match on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
What is it like playing at Wimbledon. You played all
the majors, How does Wimbledon compare?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Yeah, my personal view is that Wimbledon's unbelievable. It's in
a different league of its own. I mean, I think
the fact that even that you dress in white, which
is not necessarily what you do for the rest of
the year, but there's a real aura about stepping out
there and looking at at the history of the game
there and looking at just everything about it, the strawberries
(05:14):
and cream, the way people cue, the patience, and the
knowledge of the British you know, sort of fraternity, if
you like. They really know their tennis, and it's a
very special place to be at. So if you're going
to play your best tennis, good on Lulu for playing
the best tennis at Wimbledon.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Absolutely, I thought it was really cool too. Obviously the
crowd was behind Emma RADICANDU she's the hometown player, of course,
they're going to support her. But when Lula went back
out onto court after she had won to acknowledge them,
she's got a really warm round of applause, didn't she.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah. And that's what I mean about sort of like
knowing their sport. And I really loved that about recognizing,
you know, the winners and the losers and recognizing that
while they would have loved Emma to win and to
go on to the next round, they're really good at
acknowledging what a tremendous performance that was. And that's how
(06:05):
sports shall be played, because there's always going to be
a winner and a loser, but it's around the respect
that has shown for both the winners and the losers.
And that was a really nice touch today.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yes, going this deep into a Grand Slam also, of
course brings financial benefits with prize money. How will that
improve things as she moves on in her tennis career.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
I think that's a good point to touch on, because
I think it will improve things markedly. If you're making
the sort of prize money that Lulu has made to
date in the tournament, it just takes so much of
the pressure away. So her team around her, with the
coach and the people that she has. It may be
that she would like to bring someone else into that
team and she can afford to do that now. And
it also none of the prize money. It's also gives
(06:45):
with a ranking that will go right up, well up
into the whatever, I don't even know, the forties or
the thirties. As a result of this, it allows you
a little bit more latitude if you like to choose
tournaments you know you'll get into the main drawer and
you have a lot more ability to plan your year
as opposed to trying to work out whether you will
(07:05):
get into the main draw or if you went through qualifying.
So it's sort of like success kind of breed success
in that sense because it sort of almost gets a
little bit easier as you progress.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Exciting times, I can't believe it's been thirty five years
since you got to the Semason in Melbourne. I can't
believe it's been thirty five years.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
My niece are telling me that it's definitely been thirty
five years.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Do you think that much to them?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Ah? No, not really. I mean, I think, you know,
you move on with your life and I'm doing different
things now. But I think it's moments like these where
you know a few people ring up and want to comment,
and you think about that in the context of what
that was like and for me at that time, and
I can't speak for Lulu. It was an exciting fortnight
for me, and I tried to cherish everything for what
(07:55):
it was at that time and hopefully tried to smell
the roses because it was a special time in my
career and I hope that it's a special time in
Lulu's as well.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
I'm sure it is. Welinda, great to get the chance
to chat. Thanks for joining us tonight, not at all, cheers,
Thank you, Blinda, Belinda Cordwell. They're the last last New
Zealander to make the quarterfinals of a major Ossie Open
nineteen eighty nine.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Tennis History at Wimbledon Overnight. No, she has it and
know we see what it means because Luluson is living
the same dream that Radakano once DIDs. The qualifier moves
on through to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. Here,
Lulusan has continued her stunning run at Wimbledon. She is
(00:33):
the first New Zealand woman to make the quarterfinals at Wimbledon,
making her very first appearance on center court. Cool and
composed during her six ' to two, five seven, six '
two victory over British hometown favorite Emma Radicanu in a
match that lasted almost three hours. The last New Zealander
to reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon was Chris Lewis. He
(00:55):
went on to make the final in nineteen eighty three,
and the last time any New Zealander reached a Grand
Slam quarterfinal was in nineteen eighty nine, when Belinda cord
reached the quarters and then went on to the semifinals
at the Australian Open. Belinda Cordwell is with us on
sports Talk Great to get the chance to chat to you, Belinda,
(01:16):
Can you put into context how significant and achievement this
is the quarter finals of the women's singles at Wimbledon.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
It's pretty difficult to put it into context because it's
so huge. Really, I know we use that word a
lot in sport, but to look at a player that's
ranked one hundred and twenty three in the world, that's
come through the toughest qualifying in the world in terms
of Grand Slams, I mean playing qualifying at Roehampton in England,
which is a venue sort of down the road from Wimbledon,
(01:47):
and trying to get through three rounds of qualifying where
everybody wants to win. It's really really tough, and she
managed that achievement. So to get into the main draw
on that basis was an achievement in itself. And now
to be having a conversation about Lulu making the quarter
finals at Wimbledon is career changing for HER's and that's
(02:07):
not an understatement.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
How has this happened? What is it about her that
has allowed her and her game of tennis to get
her this far with, as I say, hopefully more to come.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Well, to be fair, she's got a bit of pedigree
in the game, and I you know, she became a
naturalized New Zealander in March this year. But there's been
a lot that's happened in her career today. I mean,
she was had a WTA ranking at fourteen, which is
really pretty unheard of. That's a very young age to
get such a ranking, and so has progressed from there,
(02:38):
you know, represented I think she represented Switzerland actually in
twenty eighteen at junior Wimbledon, or potentially New Zealand and
then switched to Switzerland and now back is represented New Zealand.
But she's certainly been around and played tennis through you know,
the last five to ten years, and also through in
(02:59):
Texas at the University of Texas where where she studied
as well. And so I think that where sort of
saying where has this come from? But I think gradually
she has been building her craft and building her career
over a number of years.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Today, how much confidence will her performances in the past
week give her.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Massive huge I mean you really only had to look
at the way she played at quarterfy sorry that to
get into the quarterfinals. I just think watching the confidence
to take a short ball and approach the net. She
came to the net nearly thirty times against Radicano, and
most of the women players are not that comfortable as
the net. So to see Lulu actually approaching the net
(03:38):
and taking the match to her opponent, to me if
it makes it feel like she's actually playing in a
really confident manner at the moment, And it's difficult not
to be so confident when you've won, you know, six
or seven matches at the tournament on such a world stage.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
She'll meet Croatian Donna Vacage next. She could win that,
couldn't she Blinda, how far could she potentially go?
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Yeah, she could definitely win the next match. And at
the moment, you know, you're down to the last eight,
so you've got to be saying, well, you know, I've
got some chances here. But I think the focus for
her team, and I think we've already read about it,
is around just taking one match at a time and
trying to stick to the same routine and the same
mindset that she's used all the way to the tournament.
(04:20):
So the challenge is sort of not to get over
excited because you're playing a quarter final. But if watching
her play this morning is anything to go by I
mean center court at Wimbledon, playing against a British home
time time favorite who has done so well historically, and
to not get overawed and over excited by that event,
(04:43):
you know, makes us feel really good about her next
match on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
What is it like playing at Wimbledon. You played all
the majors, How does Wimbledon compare?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Yeah, my personal view is that Wimbledon's unbelievable. It's in
a different league of its own. I mean, I think
the fact that even that you dress in white, which
is not necessarily what you do for the rest of
the year, but there's a real aura about stepping out
there and looking at at the history of the game
there and looking at just everything about it, the strawberries
(05:14):
and cream, the way people cue, the patience, and the
knowledge of the British you know, sort of fraternity, if
you like. They really know their tennis, and it's a
very special place to be at. So if you're going
to play your best tennis, good on Lulu for playing
the best tennis at Wimbledon.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Absolutely, I thought it was really cool too. Obviously the
crowd was behind Emma RADICANDU she's the hometown player, of course,
they're going to support her. But when Lula went back
out onto court after she had won to acknowledge them,
she's got a really warm round of applause, didn't she.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah. And that's what I mean about sort of like
knowing their sport. And I really loved that about recognizing,
you know, the winners and the losers and recognizing that
while they would have loved Emma to win and to
go on to the next round, they're really good at
acknowledging what a tremendous performance that was. And that's how
(06:05):
sports shall be played, because there's always going to be
a winner and a loser, but it's around the respect
that has shown for both the winners and the losers.
And that was a really nice touch today.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yes, going this deep into a Grand Slam also, of
course brings financial benefits with prize money. How will that
improve things as she moves on in her tennis career.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
I think that's a good point to touch on, because
I think it will improve things markedly. If you're making
the sort of prize money that Lulu has made to
date in the tournament, it just takes so much of
the pressure away. So her team around her, with the
coach and the people that she has. It may be
that she would like to bring someone else into that
team and she can afford to do that now. And
it also none of the prize money. It's also gives
(06:45):
with a ranking that will go right up, well up
into the whatever, I don't even know, the forties or
the thirties. As a result of this, it allows you
a little bit more latitude if you like to choose
tournaments you know you'll get into the main drawer and
you have a lot more ability to plan your year
as opposed to trying to work out whether you will
(07:05):
get into the main draw or if you went through qualifying.
So it's sort of like success kind of breed success
in that sense because it sort of almost gets a
little bit easier as you progress.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Exciting times, I can't believe it's been thirty five years
since you got to the Semason in Melbourne. I can't
believe it's been thirty five years.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
My niece are telling me that it's definitely been thirty
five years.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Do you think that much to them?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Ah? No, not really. I mean, I think, you know,
you move on with your life and I'm doing different
things now. But I think it's moments like these where
you know a few people ring up and want to comment,
and you think about that in the context of what
that was like and for me at that time, and
I can't speak for Lulu. It was an exciting fortnight
for me, and I tried to cherish everything for what
(07:55):
it was at that time and hopefully tried to smell
the roses because it was a special time in my
career and I hope that it's a special time in
Lulu's as well.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
I'm sure it is. Welinda, great to get the chance
to chat. Thanks for joining us tonight, not at all, cheers,
Thank you, Blinda, Belinda Cordwell. They're the last last New
Zealander to make the quarterfinals of a major Ossie Open
nineteen eighty nine.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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