Australian Open 2025 results: Lucky loser Eva Lys makes history by reaching fourth round

Lucky losers are players who lose in qualifying for a tournament, but gain a spot in the main draw if someone withdraws due to injury or illness.

Lys had packed her bags and booked a flight after losing in the final round of qualifying, but a place in the draw opened up when Russia’s Kalinskaya withdrew 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 the court to face Australia’s Kimberly Birrell.

Despite being concerned about the lack of preparation time, she came through 6-2 6-2 – and moved her flight to Sunday.

That plane 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’ll go and try to change it a little bit more,” Lys said.

“It’s actually really fun. We just picked a date. We’re like, ‘OK, Sunday’s six days away.’ We just have to choose Sunday.”

“I’m glad we’re going to change that now.”

When she eventually flies home, she will be at least A$420,000 (£210,342) richer – a stark difference from the A$50,000 (A$25,300) Lys thought she would walk away with after losing in qualifying, and a boost to her career earnings of $798,163 (£655,413).

Lys has competed in all four majors, but her best performance at a Slam prior to this was a US Open second-round appearance in 2023.

She is the sixth lucky loser to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam in the Open era, but the first to do so in Melbourne. No one has ever gone past the fourth round.

“Obviously I’m very happy to make it to week two. I feel like week two has always been such a dream for me,” Lys added.