This year’s Australian Open has been everything but ordinary for Eva Lys as the 23-year-old lucky loser will leave the tournament with not one but a couple of new best results and personal achievements.
After falling just short to Destanee Aiava in a tight three-setter in the Australian Open qualifying final round, the world No. 128 stayed in Melbourne but was ready to depart on Tuesday.
Then on Monday, the Kyiv-born player – who moved to Germany at the age of 2 and represents that country – was notified that Anna Kalinskaya pulled out of her match just 10 minutes before the start.
That’s when Lys’ fairytale story starts.
After basically not having enough time to dress and pick up her stuff, she went out on the court and dismantled Kimberley Birrell 6-2 6-2.
Since then, she has also defeated Varvara Gracheva and Jaqueline Cristian to reach the Australian Open round-of-16 and set up a meeting against none other than Iga Swiatek.
Eva Lys© Australian Open/Instagram – Fair Use
All of Lys’ new best results and accomplishments
We will start with Grand Slams – this is the 23-year-old’s best-ever Major run by far.
In the past, she only had one main draw win at the Slam level – it came during the 2023 US Open.
When it comes to her ranking, she has never been a top-100 player as her career-high ranking saw her sit at No. 105 in the world – that was achieved last September.
That is also set to change Lys will break into the top-100 in the world after the Australian Open and she is guaranteed to be ranked inside the top-95 even if she loses to Swiatek.
Also, the 23-year-old put her name in the Australian Open history books with this run – she is the first player since 1988 to reach the round-of-16 at Melbourne Park as a lucky loser.
And of course, there is the money part.
According to the WTA website, Lys has earned $798k so far in her career.
By making the last-16 stage in Melbourne, she is guaranteed to pocket $420k – which is by far the biggest prize money she has ever collected in a single tournament.
After beating Gracheva, the German described her run as “an insane story” and noted that it “totally changed my life.”
Eva Lys© Australian Open/Instagram – Fair Use
Now, Lys could add another chapter to her incredible run by upsetting Swiatek.
It is worth mentioning that she has already twice changed her flight date and that she also celebrated her 23rd birthday in Melbourne.
Tennis World USA