Wimbledon star's history-making quarter-final racquet ends up in Te Anau
Lulu Sun has offered up a heart-warming recognition of her childhood hometown of Te Anau through some special gifts.
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Te Anau Tennis Club members have been left stunned following the arrival of a gift package from tennis star Lulu Sun.
The package includes the racquet Sun played with during her history-making quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon in July.
Sun became the first Kiwi to reach a quarterfinal at Wimbledon in the Open era.
She grew up in Te Anau and the community embraced her Wimbledon run in July. It included the Te Anau Tennis Club hosting watch parties in the early hours to cheer on New Zealand’s new sporting star.
It appears that passionate support reached Sun during her Wimbledon exploits.
Te Anau Tennis Club president Greg Sheppard said Sun had sent thank you cards to lots of people in Te Anau.
He was aware something was up when Sun asked for the club’s postal address but was shocked when a box arrived one day filled with stuff from Sun.
‘‘We got a gift pack with her tennis racquet and playing gear from her quarterfinal at Wimbledon, so we are going to get that all mounted up and displayed nicely in the tennis club.
‘‘There was her singlet, top, her hat, we’ve even got her shoes, and the skirt she wore in the quarterfinal, all signed, and a lovely letter to go with it thanking the club for all of the effort the club put in while she was playing.
‘‘It is really cool… We are very appreciative.’’
Sun lived in Te Anau until she was five when her family moved to Switzerland.
She grew up at her family's luxury spa, Takaro Lodge, which offers ancient Chinese treatments for relaxation and health.Â
The former hunting lodge, about 30km north of Te Anau, was transformed into a luxury retreat by Sun's family and in the early 2000s was also a NZQA-accredited training academy where students paid to learn energy work and healing techniques.Â
Sun’s grandmother Aiping Wang still lives in the region, which has prompted Sun to make regular visits to Te Anau over the years.
It’s expected Sun will be back in Te Anau in December before she plays in the ASB Classic which will run from December 30 to January 5 in Auckland.
It is just before the annual Te Anau Tennis Invitational tournament which will again be held on December 28 and 29.
It is still hopeful Sun might make an appearance at the Te Anau event, even if it’s not for an exhibition match.
‘‘It would be cool to see her, we are all excited,’’ Sheppard said.