Eva Lys’ fairytale story at the 2025 Australian Open took an incredible turn as the world number 128 came from behind to beat Jaqueline Cristian 4-6, 6-3, 6- 3 and reserve their place in the round of 16. The German became the first lucky loser to reach this stage at Melbourne Park since 1988, cementing her place in tournament history.
A fairy tale return
Lys started slowly, losing serve twice in the first set as Cristian took an early lead. But the 23-year-old German found her rhythm in the second set, breaking Cristian twice to level the match. In the deciding set, Lys continued its momentum, earning breaks in the first and ninth games to seal a historic victory.
“I don’t think I have the words to describe it right now,” Lys said earlier in the tournament. “I was a little panicked when I got the call to play, but now I’m just enjoying every moment. »
Make history
By reaching the round of 16, Lys becomes the first lucky loser in 37 years to achieve this feat at the Australian Open. Her run almost didn’t happen—she was on the verge of leaving Melbourne after narrowly losing in the qualifying rounds. But when Anna Kalinskaya withdrew from her opening match, Lys was given a last-minute lifeline.
“I found out about it 10 minutes before the match, so I didn’t have time to be nervous,” Lys said, recalling the blistering start to her main draw campaign.
The final test: Iga Swiatek
Lys’ next challenge is monumental: a fourth-round clash against the five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatekthe top seed of the tournament. The two players last met in 2022, with Swiatek dominating 6-1, 6-1 in Stuttgart.
-Although Lys enters the match as a big underdog, her fearless approach and newfound confidence have already taken her further than anyone could have imagined.
“It will be a huge challenge, but I will give everything I have,” Lys said of her matchup against Swiatek.
A dream come true
For Lys, this adventure represents not only an important step in her career, but also a testimony of resilience and opportunity. What started with a rushed change in the locker room and no preparation time turned into a remarkable run that captivated fans.
As the 23-year-old prepares to take on one of the game’s greatest players, one thing is certain: Lys’ story is already one of the defining stories of this year’s Australian Open .
