In an unexpected turn of events, Paula Badosa’s unfortunate withdrawal from Indian Wells due to a back injury has paved the way for Australian Open sensation, Eva Lys, to make a thrilling comeback. Lys, the rising German tennis prodigy, has once again proven her mettle by seizing an opportunity when it matters most.
In the preliminary rounds at Indian Wells, Lys demonstrated her undeniable skills as she triumphed over Aliaksandra Sasnovich. However, her journey was temporarily halted following a defeat against Jule Niemeier in the final qualifying round. Undeterred, the 23-year-old stayed put in Indian Wells, holding on to the hope of still making it into the main draw.
As fate would have it, Badosa’s late withdrawal on Thursday provided Lys with the golden ticket she needed. Displaying the tenacity of a true champion, Lys seized the opportunity as a lucky loser, setting the stage for a face-off against Caroline Dolehide in the first round on Friday. Her triumph over adversity was aptly summarized in her Instagram Story, where she referred to herself as having “Rose from the dead again…”
Lys’ remarkable journey at Indian Wells is reminiscent of her spectacular performance at this year’s Australian Open. After losing in the final round of qualifiers, Lys remained in Melbourne, where a last-minute withdrawal by Anna Kalinskaya saw her catapulted into the main draw. From there, she emerged victorious in three consecutive matches, ultimately bowing out to Iga Swiatek in the round-of-16.
Her Australian Open journey was not just a series of victories, but an anthology of groundbreaking achievements. Lys became the first lucky loser since 1988 to make it to the Australian Open round-of-16, marking her maiden appearance in the second week of a Grand Slam. Not only did she secure her biggest ever prize money, but she also broke into the top-100 rankings for the first time in her career.
Reflecting on her journey, Lys said, “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 feel like my lucky loser position definitely helps me. Sometimes you just need a second chance.”
As Lys gears up for her debut in the main draw at Indian Wells, all eyes are on her to see if she can replicate her Australian Open magic. One thing is certain: with her determination and fighting spirit, Eva Lys is a force to be reckoned with in the world of tennis.