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Eva Lys will play one of her career's biggest matches when she takes on second seed Iga Swiatek in the fourth round of the Australian Open 2025 on Sunday (Jan. 19).
Lys has had a fascinating journey at the Melbourne Slam. The German had lost in the third round of qualifying but got a spot in the main draw as a lucky loser. The 23-year-old came back from a set down to beat Jaqueline Cristian 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to set up a fourth-round date with Swiatek.
Addressing the media in the post-match press conference, Lys said she was relishing the contest against the Polish star.
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“I’m really excited to play her. She's an amazing player. I'm definitely waiting for matches like that. This is the reason why I play tennis, so I’m definitely excited to be going out and play her," she said (2:43).
The fourth round of the Australian Open is the best run Lys has ever had at a Grand Slam. Swiatek, on the other hand, has five Grand Slams to her name and is eyeing her first Australian Open title.
The gulf in experience is clear, but Eva Lys is backing herself for what has the billing to be a quality contest.
"I do think that you always have a chance going out. You never know what's going to happen in a match, and I'll just try to keep my streak going, try to keep my spirit going. I'm just going to go out and enjoy,” she added (3:15).
The last time Eva Lys played against Iga Swiatek
In the same press conference, Lys recalled playing against Swiatek at the 2022 Stuttgart Open. Swiatek was in supreme form as she handed Lys a 6-1, 6-1 defeat and went on to win the tournament.
Remembering that match, Eva Lys said (2:59):
"It was three or four years ago (when I last) played her. I was quite new to the WTA tour and even then I had amazing rallies with her. I lost one and one (1-6, 1-6). She had the streak going on, so she was playing really intense."
That was Lys' first year on the Tour and she has come a long way since. She made her Grand Slam debut when she made it to the 2023 Australian Open as well as the US Open and ended the year ranked 112.
She made it to the main draw of all Grand Slams barring the Australian Open last year. The highlight of her year was beating Elise Mertens enroute to the semifinals of the Jasmin Open, which was her third semifinal appearance on the Tour.
Her incredible run at the 2025 Australian Open, which made her the first lucky loser to reach the fourth round of the Melbourne Major in the Open Era, will see Eva Lys make it to the top-100 for the first time in her career.
