Eva Lys was planning her flight out of Melbourne. But in a twist of fate, Lys has now advanced further than any "lucky loser" before.

Germany's Eva Lys makes history as she becomes the first women's singles lucky loser to reach the Australian Open in the Open Era.

Had it not been for Anna Kalinskaya's last-minute withdrawal at the Australian Open, Eva Lys would probably be on the road to her next tournament after losing in the third round of the qualifying event at Melbourne Park.

Eva Lys is making a habit of changing her travel plans, with the German advancing to the fourth round after initially failing to qualify for the main draw in Melbourne.

Germany's Eva Lys has become the first women's single lucky loser to reach the last 16 at the Australian Open in the Open era as she extended her fairy-tale run with another impressive victory on Saturday.

Eva Lys's bags were packed and her flight booked. But now the German is into the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time after making the most of her second chance at the Australian Open.

Eva Lys called it “an insane story” and life-changing after the German made history on Saturday by reaching the last 16 of the Australian Open 2025 and a date with Iga Swiatek. The 128th-ranked Lys fought back from a set down to become the first women’s singles “lucky loser” to reach the fourth round since the event moved to Melbourne Park in 1988.

Eva Lys will have to rebook her plane ticket home after extending her dream run, winning her third-round match as a lucky loser.