Sun Lulu vs Antonia Ruzic

WTA Cincinnati – 1R: Sun Lulu vs Antonia Ruzic

🧠 Form & Context

Sun Lulu

• 🌪️ Turbulent 2025 season with a 4–10 record on hard courts.
• ❌ Hasn’t gone beyond the second round of a hard-court event since Indian Wells in March.
• ✅ Notable win over Sorana Cirstea last week in Montreal before falling in straight sets to Amanda Anisimova.
• 📊 Holds a 1–0 H2H lead over Ruzic, but that came on clay in 2023.

Antonia Ruzic

• 🔥 Arrives in sharper form with a 35–19 overall record in 2025, including multiple ITF titles.
• 🏆 Scored a main-draw win over Anastasia Potapova in Montreal.
• 🚀 Qualified here in Cincinnati by dropping just 10 games in two matches.
• 🎯 Efficient in 2025 qualifying rounds, using aggressive baseline play to control exchanges.

🔍 Match Breakdown

• Sun Lulu: Left-handed variety is her main asset, especially pulling opponents wide on serve. Second serve has been a liability against strong returners, and she’s struggled to close out sets from winning positions on hard courts.
• Antonia Ruzic: Controlled aggression, especially effective off the backhand wing. Serving more effectively in recent weeks and stepping inside the baseline to finish rallies. Clinical form in qualifying, dominating return games and closing sets quickly.
• Tactical Keys:
  • Sun needs to extend rallies and target Ruzic’s forehand under pressure.
  • Ruzic should rush Sun’s backhand to force shorter balls for easy putaways.
  • Early breaks could tilt the match heavily in Ruzic’s favor.

🔮 Prediction

Given recent form, match rhythm from qualifying, and a superior hold/break balance, Ruzic looks more likely to dictate play. Sun’s lefty angles may cause moments of trouble, but without a strong serving performance, sustaining scoreboard pressure will be difficult.

Projected Winner: Antonia Ruzic in straight sets.