Lys’ lucky loser ride continues into week two
ONE OF the most remarkable stories of this year’s Australian Open is that of German Eva Lys.
From missing out on the final round of qualifying to becoming a lucky loser with five minutes notice, she is now into the second week of the Australian Open after defeating Jaqueline Cristian yesterday.
In a hard fought, almost two and a half hour match, Lys dropped the first set to the Romanian before ultimately prevailing 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
“Definitely doesn’t feel real for me right now, I don’t know when the realisation will kick in,” Lys said post-match.
“It’s definitely just an amazing situation to be in, especially knowing that I was [a] lucky loser.
“It’s definitely an insane story… how fast it happened, it’s been just a couple of days. Those days have totally changed my life.
“I’m very, very happy to be making it to [the] second week, I feel like second week was always such a dream for me.”
Although Cristian dominated the aces count three to one, she also racked up the double faults, serving four compared to just one from Lys. This left Lys with a better first serve in percentage (68% compared to 48%) and percentage of wins off her first serve (74% compared to 60%). Lys also recorded more than double the winners that Cristian did, finishing with 34 winners to Cristian’s 16.
However, things are about to get significantly more difficult for Lys. Her next opponent is none other than Iga Swiatek, after the Pole cruised past Emma Raducanu yesterday,
Lys was not the only underdog winner yesterday, with Veronika Kudermetova beating Beatriz Haddad Maia, Elina Svitolina beating Jasmine Paolini and Madison Keys beating countrywoman Danielle Collins.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN WOMEN’S RESULTS: JANUARY 18
I. Swiatek (2) defeated E. Raducanu 6-1, 6-0
M. Keys (19) defeated D. Collins (10) 6-4, 6-4
E. Navarro (8) defeated O. Jabeur 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
E. Svitolina (28) defeated J. Paolini (4) 2-6, 6-4, 6-0
E. Rybakina (6) defeated D. Yastremska (32) 6-3, 6-4
D. Kasatkina (9) defeated Y. Putintseva (24) 7-5, 6-1
V. Kudermetova defeated B. Haddad Maia (15) 6-4, 6-2
E. Lys (LL) defeated J. Cristian 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
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