Australian Open 2025
Dates: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park
Coverage: Live radio commentary on Tennis Breakfast from 07:00 GMT on BBC 5 Sports Extra, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app
Eva Lys has made history at the Australian Open by becoming the first women’s singles lucky loser to reach the fourth round of the Melbourne major in the Open era.
The German, ranked 128th in the world, came from a set down to beat Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian 4-6 6-3 6-3.
Just a few days ago, Lys had her flight home booked after losing in the final round of qualifying.
But, after being given a spot in the main draw following Anna Kalinskaya’s withdrawal, she has won three matches in a row to set up a meeting with world number two Iga Swiatek.
“I don’t know when the realisation will kick in,” Lys, 23, said.
“It’s definitely an amazing situation to be in, especially knowing that I was a lucky loser.
“It’s an insane story, how fast it happened. Those days have totally changed my life.”
Lucky losers are players who lose in qualifying at a tournament but receive a place in the main draw if another player withdraws through injury or illness.
Lys had her bags packed and a flight booked after losing in the final round of qualifying, but a place in the draw opened up when Russia’s Kalinskaya pulled out on Monday before her first-round match.
Lys was on site receiving treatment from the physio when the withdrawal was announced and was given 10 minutes notice before she took to court to face Australian Kimberly Birrell.
Despite being worried about the lack of preparation time, she came through 6-2 6-2 – and moved her flight to Sunday.
That flight will have to change again, with Sunday spent preparing for a match against five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek on Monday.
“Right now I think after the press conference we’re going to go and try to change it a little bit further,” Lys said.
“It’s actually really funny. We just picked a date. We’re like, ‘Okay, Sunday’s six days away. We’re just going to pick Sunday’.
“I’m glad we have to change it now.”
When she does eventually fly home, she will be doing so at least A$420,000 (£210,342) richer – a marked difference on the A$50,000 (£25,300) Lys thought she would be taking away after losing in qualifying.
Lys has competed in all four majors but her best performance at a Slam before this was a US Open second-round appearance in 2023.
She is the sixth lucky loser to make the last-16 of a Grand Slam in the Open era but the first to do so in Melbourne. None none have ever gone past the fourth round.
“Obviously I’m very happy to be making it to second week. I feel like second week was always such a dream for me,” Lys added.
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