Kiwi Lulu Sun has been knocked out of the Australian Open in the opening round, falling 6–3, 7–5 to Czech qualifier Linda Fruhvirtova in warm conditions on Court 13.
Playing her first match of the year after recovering from a wrist injury, the 24-year-old showed early promise by taking 3–1 leads in both sets, including an opening-game break of serve.
However, Fruhvirtova, who entered the main draw through qualifying, gradually gained control, closing out the first set and withstanding a late surge from Sun in the second, where the New Zealander saved multiple match points to level at 5–5 before eventually being beaten in straight sets.
