Day 4 of the Australian Open 2025 will be remembered as a day of second chances and giant-slaying performances, with three lucky losers rewriting their scripts and creating history. It marked the first time since the tournament’s inaugural year at Melbourne Park in 1988 that a trio of lucky losers advanced to the second round. Here’s how the day unfolded:
1. Eva Lys: A Story of Last-Minute Glory
Eva Lys, a 22-year-old German, found herself thrust into the spotlight just ten minutes before her match. A last-minute withdrawal by 13th seed Anna Kalinskaya allowed Lys to replace her in the main draw and face Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell.
Without time to overthink or warm up, Lys credited her loose arm and lack of nerves for her stunning 6-2, 6-2 win. “I didn’t prepare my drinks or even have my match clothes on,” Lys confessed, sharing that she was receiving treatment on a physio table when she was called up.
Having lost her final qualifying match days before, Lys’ improbable journey seemed destined for an early end. Instead, she now heads into the third round, calling the opportunity “the best birthday present I could give to myself.”
2. The Rare Feat of Lucky Losers
Joining Lys were Harriet Dart and Francesco Passaro, both capitalising on their second chances:
• Harriet Dart replaced Marketa
Vondrousova and overcame qualifier Jana Fett in the first round. Dart nearly upset Donna Vekic in round two, winning the first set before Vekic rebounded.
• Francesco Passaro stepped in for Fabio
Fognini and defeated No. 10 seed Grigor Dimitrov after the latter retired due to injury. It marked Passaro’s first Grand Slam main-draw win.
Who are lucky losers? Players who lose in the final round of qualifiers but stay on-site in case a main-draw player withdraws. In Australian Open history, lucky losers rarely make deep runs, but history offers hope — like Simone Bolelli’s third-round journey in 2009 or Bernard Tomic’s second-round run in 2008.
3. Laura Siegemund Stuns Qinwen Zheng
Germany’s Laura Siegemund, aged 36, delivered a jaw-dropping upset against Olympic champion and 2024 finalist Qinwen Zheng. Siegemund’s 7-6(3), 6-3 victory marked her first top-10 win at a Slam, adding Zheng to an illustrious list of previous victims, including Simona Halep and Venus Williams.
4. Naomi Osaka Rolls Back the Clock
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka showed her class in a 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 comeback win over 20th seed Karolina Muchova. Back on tour after giving birth in July 2023, Osaka’s victory places her in the third round for the first time since her return. She will face Belinda Bencic next in a battle of comeback mums.
5. Results Round-Up
• Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev advanced smoothly, but Casper Ruud suffered a shock exit to teenager Jakob Mensik. Jack Draper’s five-set win over Thanasi Kokkinakis added to the home crowd’s heartbreak.
• Aryna Sabalenka extended her winning streak to 16 matches, while Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff continued their strong campaigns. Mirra Andreeva survived a scare, winning a deciding tie-break 10-8.
Day 4 showcased tennis’ unpredictability, proving that opportunity, and success, can come when least expected. Lys and her fellow lucky losers exemplify the beauty of second chances, while veterans like Siegemund and Osaka reminded fans why the Australian Open remains the Slam of surprises.
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