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

Emma Raducanu had to retire from Wimbledon due to an injury during the final set of her fourth-round match against Lulu Sun from New Zealand.

The 21-year-old British underdog lost in a thrilling match on the main court with a score of 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.

Raducanu had tied the game and regained some self-assurance after an impressive show by a motivated opponent.

Next, Raducanu lost her footing on the baseline during the opening game of the third set.

The winner of the 2021 US Open laid on the ground for a moment, shaking her head in disbelief, before finally getting up.

The match was paused when Raducanu was serving at 15-30 and she was given medical attention for her leg and back while lying on the ground.

"I've been dealing with a sore back since yesterday. I could feel it acting up during the match," Raducanu explained.

"I believe that specifically during my serve, it was impacting me slightly."

The crowd erupted in cheers as Raducanu showed she would keep going.

Her performance during the points got better, even though she was holding her back in pain after games. However, she was defeated again at 5-2 and missed both opportunities to break Sun's serve before Sun won the match on her second match point.

The player ranked as 135th in the world was unable to advance to the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the first time in her career, and there are no British athletes remaining in the singles competitions at the All England Club.

"The match was challenging. In my opinion, Lulu played fantastic tennis," Raducanu said.

I tried my hardest and put up a good fight. She played better tennis and earned the victory.

There was a lot of excitement and hope surrounding Raducanu as she easily won her first three matches without losing a set, leading to high expectations for her performance.

However, Sun, a self-assured player who had not been victorious in a main-draw match at a Grand Slam before this event, showcased the dominant skills that have enabled her to achieve new milestones.

Her excellent performance shook up former world number 10 Raducanu and disappointed the hopeful home crowd.

Raducanu lost the match the day after she decided not to participate in a mixed doubles match with Andy Murray because of tightness in her right wrist.

Despite being a reasonable decision considering his previous wrist surgery, some people criticized Murray for choosing to sit out Wimbledon, as it meant he would miss out on a chance to play in his final farewell tournament at the prestigious event.

Raducanu seemed happy and cheerful while practicing earlier on Sunday. She has been smiling more during the British grass-court season, and her newfound joy is bringing out some of her top-level tennis play since her victory at the US Open.

This led to higher expectations, especially since we were up against a tough opponent in the quarter-finals qualifier.

However, as Raducanu mentioned before the competition, qualifiers can be unpredictable. Her caution turned out to be accurate.

Raducanu experienced a magical moment when she became the champion at the US Open as a young qualifier nearly three years ago.

This time, Sun's wishes are finally becoming a reality.

Sun, a southpaw hailing from New Zealand but now playing for Switzerland, exuded self-assurance akin to a champion who has effortlessly clinched six consecutive victories on the hallowed courts of Wimbledon.

Dazzling champions followed up with an excellent serve, aided by the assured spring in her stride that helped her secure 23 out of 28 points at the net.

The 23-year-old felt overwhelmed with emotions after making it to the quarterfinals in just her second Grand Slam tournament.

She had never achieved victory at a big tournament until she defeated the eighth-seeded Chinese player, Zheng Qinwen, in a surprising first-round match. This unexpected win marked the beginning of her remarkable journey.

"I had to give it my all because Emma never gives up easily, she always chases after every ball and fights until the very end," she explained.

"I am unable to express myself at the moment."

Next up for Sun is a match against Croatia's Donna Vekic, who is currently ranked 37th in the world. The winner of this match will secure a spot in the semi-finals.