Belinda Cordwell: Former New Zealand Grand Slam semi-finalist on Lulu Sun's Wimbledon success

Belinda Cordwell was the last New Zealand woman to reach the quarter-finals at a tennis Grand Slam, but this morning her feat was matched by New Zealander Lulu Sun.

Sun beat hometown-favourite Emily Radacanu at Wimbledon. 

Cordwell, who lives in the Wairarapa, joined Nick Mills to discuss what was going through her head immediately after the win, and her advice for Sun.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talks at b.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
This morning, we were greeted with the news that Lulusen
has made it to the quarter final our semifinals at Wimbledon,
a Grand Slam, but Wimbledon Grand Slams, the Grand Slams. Well,
the last time that's happened. It was a Wellingtonian. Linda Cordwall.
I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember the
buzz around this country, not the city, the country. It

(00:33):
was incredible. It was almost like we had won the
America's Cup or something huge significant. Linda Carwell was a
very well known New Zealand tennis player. I'm not going
to downdrode that, but suddenly she was a superstar and
she joins me, now, good morning, Belinda, Good morning.

Speaker 3 (00:47):
No, I'm not sure about that, but certainly, oh, come
on thirty five years ago, it does in some ways,
you know, you feel like yesterday, particularly when you see
just wat a oneful performance there this morning for a
new vallengers reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.

Speaker 2 (01:02):
Tell me what will be going through her mind yesterday,
today and tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
Well, not that you ever want to talk about what's
going on in someone else's minds. So I think if
I relate it to what was happening for me at
that time as well as this and what I've read
about Lulu is just focusing on playing the match for
its merit and enjoying that process. Heed to court at
Wimbledon against an English player probably doesn't get any better

(01:30):
than that. And it's a sort of thing that we
talk about a little bit, you know, something that you
can talk to your grandchildren about. But I think the
significance of what she was doing today, just in terms
of the atmosphere and where she was playing, was a
real victory in itself, and so and then the tennis
becomes a sort of secondary almost of that. And I
think if we watch the way she played today, just

(01:52):
played with no fear. You know, she attacked the net,
She was positive, kind of in an attitude of like
I might as well give this everything i've got because
I've got nothing to lose.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
Is that how you played it? Yeah?

Speaker 3 (02:04):
I think. So. It's a long time ago, it's hard
to remember, but I think what I do remember about
that time when I played in the semis of the
Australian open was around just a real calmness about what
I was doing. And I think if you talk to
sports people and probably people in different areas of life,
there are just sometimes in their lives where all things
come together and there's a calmness about what they're doing

(02:24):
and a kind of a determination and a real attitude
to play as well as you can or be as
good as you can be. But it's like the stars aligned.
And I certainly remember that sort of amazing feeling of
relaxation and calmness and really enjoyed the moment, and I
really hope that Lulu does the same.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
Can she go further? Can she win it? I mean,
is this a dream too far?

Speaker 3 (02:47):
Well, wouldn't I thought so? I mean, you win seven
matches at Wimbledon, you've got to be saying you get
well into the second week of a tournament, as particularly
a Grand Slam. We always talk about making the second
week of a Grand Slam, and then you kind of reset,
because it's like playing two tournaments in one. And certainly
from Lulu's perspective, she's also played qualifying. You know, the
way she's playing and the way she has so much

(03:09):
composure on the court, I mean the world's anyone's oyster
in that situation, and so you know, the challenge I
guess for her and her team is just to stay
in the present moment and not get too beyond themselves
and what they're thinking is about, and just focus on
the next match, which is a quarter final, and play
it the way you would any match at any time
of the year.

Speaker 2 (03:29):
Does this change Lulu's life this one.

Speaker 3 (03:31):
Tournament, Yep, definitely. I think it does for a number
of reasons. I mean from a financial perspective, you know,
I think it's already been talked about. The sort of
prize money that she's now won certainly makes a difference
in terms of taking the pressure off traveling with team,
maybe traveling more with family, maybe making different decisions because
of their financial situation, And in terms of just the

(03:55):
confidence a tournament like this gives you. She's heading into
the Olympics representing New Zealand and the doubles at the
Olympics with Aaron Rautliff, and I think that just the
confidence a tournament like this gives you to on another
level of the rung, if you like, another level of
the latter when you're playing the tournaments let's say in
the next twelve months, and I think that no one

(04:15):
can take this away from her. Now she's made the
quarter finals of a Grand Slam at Wimbledon, and she
also gets into the last eight club at Wimbledon, which
means that she can turn up at the tournament in
all the years to come and get you access to
the members lounge and also tickets to the tournament, and
just that sort of thing is just a wonderful recognition

(04:36):
of the achievement that she has had.

Speaker 2 (04:38):
Remember, Chris Lewis actually played in the final at Wimbledon too.
What was it was eighty two? I think it was
a year before.

Speaker 3 (04:43):
You, wasn't it? It was eighty three?

Speaker 2 (04:45):
Eighty three was okay?

Speaker 1 (04:47):
So Chris.

Speaker 3 (04:48):
It's interesting because Chris talks about that, and you know,
he's recently been been awarded with a King's Birthday honor
for his not only his sort of accolades on the
tennis court, but equally off the court too, and that
the amount he's done for bringing you know, New Zealand
tennis to a high level and the commitment he made

(05:08):
on the on the New Zealand Tennis board. But you know,
Chris talks about that time and and just said it
was just incredible, and and the support that he had
from New Zealand, and how and equally he then became
known as the one with them finalist and no New Zealander,
you know, and the modern era has achieved anything like that,

(05:28):
and that certainly, you know, certainly changed his career and
and full credit.

Speaker 2 (05:34):
And up till now. And I strongly believe that you
did exactly the same. And I know that you've put
your life into helping people and doing the right thing.
So thanks for taking the opportunity to talk to us.
It's always fantastic and it's definitely a very very special
sporting moment in my life watching you in the semi
final in the Australian Open. I can remember it like

(05:54):
it was yesterday and you were so so ready to go.
So I love it. Thank you very much for joining
us this morning. Belinda Cordwill who actually lives in our
catchment area. She lives in the You still live in
the wire Eppa bullet. There you go, she's still in
our area. Good on you, thank you, enjoy it, enjoy
Lulu's success. Belinda Cordwall. There. Oh, she was the last

(06:17):
time that we had somebody in the semi final of
a Grand Sam and it was nineteen eighty nine. Chris
Lewis actually made it to the final. He played John Macarroe.
I remember that game like it was yesterday too.

Speaker 1 (06:28):
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