Giant-killer Lu basks in Wimbledon spotlight
Source: Agencies |
June 30, 2010, Wednesday
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IF the fan comments on Wimbledon's Website are anything to go by then Asia has found its new tennis superstar in Chinese Taipei's Lu Yen-hsun.
"I can't believe it! You totally rock, Lu! Fantastic game, my Taiwanese hero," said one overwhelmed supporter after Lu sprang the shock of the tournament by beating fifth seed Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 9-7 in the fourth round on Monday.
"Hard working deserves the sweet fruit. We are always proud of you, Lu, number one in Asia," opined another.
Fans were running out of superlatives in their blog postings on the Lu Yen-hsun player profile page yesterday.
"Now I know why you always point to the sky after a match," wrote one fan, revelling in the victory that reduced the softly spoken Lu to tears. For his father had died 10 years before Lu found his biggest success at the world's most famous tournament at the All England Club.
A victory over Andy Murray at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing had been the 26-year-old's career highlight before bursting through on a baking afternoon on Wimbledon's Court Two.
Lu, the underdog who won over a whole legion of new fans with his victory on the hallowed turf, sat sobbing in his chair after Monday's five-set epic against the three-time finalist.
"I'm really upset because my father's already pass away. I make this result. I am really proud myself to share this victory with him in the sky," Lu told reporters in his halting English afterwards.
There is no doubting the self-belief of the first Asian man to reach a grand slam quarterfinal since Japan's Shuzo Matsuoka at Wimbledon in 1995. No Asian has ever made it to the semifinals of a grand slam, and next up for the Taiwanese giant-killer is No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic today.
First name
Lu, who has been working with Australian doubles great Mark Woodforde since last year, admitted the Serb is "a very great player" but said: "I can tell you if I have a chance to step on the court, I will fight to the end."
His surreal post-match press conference also revealed that he picked 'Randy' as his first name. Lu explained that his English teacher back home had asked him to pick out a name more easily pronounceable to a western ear.
"So that's why I pick. But I don't know the meaning actually," he said, smiling broadly.
Also on Monday, Rafael Nadal conserved some energy for his impending battle with Robin Soderling with an easy victory against Paul-Henri Mathieu while Murray gave British sports fans a lift as he outclassed dangerous American Sam Querrey.
Novak Djokovic beat Lleyton Hewitt in four sets while Tomas Berdych is Roger Federer's quarterfinal obstacle after beating Germany's Daniel Brands.
"I can't believe it! You totally rock, Lu! Fantastic game, my Taiwanese hero," said one overwhelmed supporter after Lu sprang the shock of the tournament by beating fifth seed Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 9-7 in the fourth round on Monday.
"Hard working deserves the sweet fruit. We are always proud of you, Lu, number one in Asia," opined another.
Fans were running out of superlatives in their blog postings on the Lu Yen-hsun player profile page yesterday.
"Now I know why you always point to the sky after a match," wrote one fan, revelling in the victory that reduced the softly spoken Lu to tears. For his father had died 10 years before Lu found his biggest success at the world's most famous tournament at the All England Club.
A victory over Andy Murray at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing had been the 26-year-old's career highlight before bursting through on a baking afternoon on Wimbledon's Court Two.
Lu, the underdog who won over a whole legion of new fans with his victory on the hallowed turf, sat sobbing in his chair after Monday's five-set epic against the three-time finalist.
"I'm really upset because my father's already pass away. I make this result. I am really proud myself to share this victory with him in the sky," Lu told reporters in his halting English afterwards.
There is no doubting the self-belief of the first Asian man to reach a grand slam quarterfinal since Japan's Shuzo Matsuoka at Wimbledon in 1995. No Asian has ever made it to the semifinals of a grand slam, and next up for the Taiwanese giant-killer is No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic today.
First name
Lu, who has been working with Australian doubles great Mark Woodforde since last year, admitted the Serb is "a very great player" but said: "I can tell you if I have a chance to step on the court, I will fight to the end."
His surreal post-match press conference also revealed that he picked 'Randy' as his first name. Lu explained that his English teacher back home had asked him to pick out a name more easily pronounceable to a western ear.
"So that's why I pick. But I don't know the meaning actually," he said, smiling broadly.
Also on Monday, Rafael Nadal conserved some energy for his impending battle with Robin Soderling with an easy victory against Paul-Henri Mathieu while Murray gave British sports fans a lift as he outclassed dangerous American Sam Querrey.
Novak Djokovic beat Lleyton Hewitt in four sets while Tomas Berdych is Roger Federer's quarterfinal obstacle after beating Germany's Daniel Brands.
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