Back to the Top 100 for our Frenchwoman?

Lulu Sun delivered a solid serving performance yesterday, firing 13 aces to earn her first win of the year against Maddison Inglis (7-5, 6-3). Far from simply capitalizing on a flurry of errors from her opponent, the New Zealander took control of the match with 28 winners, accepting a few mistakes in order to maintain constant pressure. It’s crucial to note that Lulu Sun has been dealing with a serious medical history since the end of the 2025 season, which largely explains her current lack of rhythm. After a neck injury picked up in Guangzhou in October, she was mainly held back by a recurring wrist injury that deprived her of any real physical preparation during the off-season. This wrist issue, which had already forced her to pull out of Auckland in January 2026, seems to be her Achilles’ heel: it directly affects the fluidity of her forehand and her ability to absorb her opponents’ heavy shots over time. Even though her 13 aces yesterday show that her shoulder is holding up, there is still uncertainty about the reliability of her wrist during the long tactical rallies that Diane Parry will surely try to impose on her.

Diane Parry will therefore need to rely on the surgical cleanliness she showed yesterday so as not to offer any openings to a Lulu Sun who is full of confidence on serve. The player from Nice knows that the key lies in her ability to extend the rallies and vary trajectories with her slice to force Lulu to hit low balls, a zone where the New Zealander’s aggressiveness often turns into unforced errors. If Diane manages to neutralize Sun’s first two shots in the rally, she will have the tactical upper hand over the long run. The bounce is low, the surface is slow and absorbs a lot, especially with this ball change this year. The Dunlops favour longer rallies! Advantage France here!