Iga Swiatek Ends Eva Lys’s Journey

German-Ukrainian tennis player Eva Lys (ranked 128 WTA) seized an unexpected lucky-loser spot to craft a remarkable story at the 2025 Australian Open. Despite entering the tournament as an underdog, Lys made it all the way to the fourth round, where her dream run was halted by world No. 2, Iga Swiatek.

The Life Story of Eva Lys

Born on January 12, 2002, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Lys moved to Germany with her family at the age of 2. Her father, Vladimir Lys, was a former professional tennis player and a member of Ukraine’s Davis Cup team.

Lys began her professional career in 2021, making her debut at the Hamburg European Open. In 2022, she gained attention by qualifying for the Porsche Grand Prix, where she reached the second round before losing to Iga Swiatek.

At the 2025 Australian Open, Lys was given a lucky-loser spot after Anna Kalinskaya (Russia, ranked 16 WTA) withdrew just minutes before her match. From there, Lys stunned everyone by:

• Defeating Kimberly Birrell (Australia, ranked 101 WTA) 6-2, 6-2.
• Overcoming Varvara Gracheva (France, ranked 69 WTA) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
• Beating Jacqueline Cristian (Belgium, ranked 82 WTA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Lys became the first player in the Open Era to use a lucky-loser entry to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.

The End of a Dream

However, Lys’s dream run came to an end at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2025, when she lost to Iga Swiatek in a one-sided match, 0-6, 1-6, in just 59 minutes. The skill gap was evident, but Lys managed to win a single game in the second set (her service game in game 6). Her joyous celebration of this lone victory brought laughter and applause from the crowd.

Although her journey ended, Lys left a lasting impression and earned $420,000 in prize money—far beyond what she had ever imagined in her professional career since starting in 2021.

Swiatek’s Quest for the Title

Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek, who is the same age as Lys (23), continues her quest for the Australian Open title. The Polish player is considered the biggest challenger to Aryna Sabalenka, the Belarusian star, in the race for the championship.

After her match, Swiatek shared:
“It was amazing to play my first night match at Rod Laver Arena. I’m still young, and there’s a lot I can improve. Matches like these give me the confidence to aim for even bigger goals.”

Although Swiatek has reached the semifinals at the Australian Open once before, she has yet to win the tournament. This year, fans are hoping she can finally achieve this milestone in her illustrious career.