AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 18, 2025

Eva Lys

Press Conference

E. LYS/J. Cristian

4-6, 6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Eva, you're into the fourth round here as a lucky loser. Just talk to us about the match, how you're feeling with your performance here.

EVA LYS: Obviously I'm very, very happy to be making it to second week. I feel like second week was always such a dream for me.

Today's match wasn't easy. I played her three times already, and I always had struggles with her the first set because she's playing so intense. She played really good today, as well. But I knew I just have to keep going.

I feel like there's always a little point where she's making more mistakes, and I really just tried to wait it out and tried to just keep on playing my game.

I made quite a lot of mistakes in the first set, so I was trying to keep them down as well. I feel like I was just fighting out there. I wasn't thinking about anything. I was just playing tennis. I feel like at the end of the day this is the reason why I could win the match in the third set.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Going to be the first time that a lot of folks will have seen you or listened to you. Can you talk about maybe 12 months ago how far away did a result like this feel for you, kind of the journey to here?

EVA LYS: I was always struggling the closer I came to top hundred, the closer I came to those big tournaments. At the end of the day I know I have the level, but I was always putting too much pressure on myself.

I always knew what's at stake. I always wanted it so bad. That was also the reason why I could never actually go out and win. I feel like my first AO experience, I made it through quallies. I remember I played Bucsa first round. I played so well first set. Second set I had that realization where I knew how many points I would make, I knew what my ranking position would be. What do you think? I lost the second set 6-0. Sometimes my head is just way further than my game and my physical self.

I feel like throughout those 12 months the biggest thing I learned is just try and play and see where it gets me. The more I think, the worse I play.

I'm just trying to go out and enjoy. I feel like my lucky loser position definitely helps me. Sometimes you just need a second chance.

Q. You have Iga in the next round. You played once before in Stuttgart. Can you talk about that matchup?

EVA LYS: Definitely 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. Definitely excited to be going out and play her.

I don't remember, it was three or four years ago I played her. I was quite new to the WTA Tour. Even then I had amazing rallies with her. I lost 1-1. She had the streak going on, so she was playing really, really intense.

I do think that you always have a chance going out. You never know what's going to happen in the match. I will just try to keep my streak going, try to keep my spirit going. I'm just going to go out and enjoy.

Q. Did you get to see any of Iga's match today, what you thought of it, and what you tell yourself before you go out on court?

EVA LYS: I have lots of respect for her. I mean, she's an intense player. I always enjoy watching her matches. I think I saw the first set against Raducanu. She's playing super consistent. She is playing just, as I said, really intense and high-quality tennis.

My goal is to just go out there, try and reach that level, and just make it as hard as possible for her.

Q. If I could ask, these series of wins and physical amount of play back to back to back, including quallies, have you been able to get the autoimmune issue kind of -- is that still a daily thing you have to deal with, or you've been able to sort out?

EVA LYS: I mean, at the end of the day this is always just a part of my life. I always have to watch out. I have to take care of my body. I have to eat well. I have to recover well for the body just to stay in shape.

Obviously this is the best practice for me. Matches was always the best practice. After a couple of matches, I feel like that I don't even need to go out on court and practice. I just feel the ball.

I just definitely need to take care of my body. I mean, I wouldn't call it an issue, but it's just part of me that's going to follow me for the next years as well. But right now I do have it under control. I mean, you can tell physically.

I had two amazing matches. In third set I was there. In third set I was playing my best tennis. So I'm definitely very happy how we managed to get my body to a definitely more stable environment.

I'm just going to try to keep that going because there's still a lot of work to do. Yeah, I'm excited for that.

Q. How much does this feel like a dream?

EVA LYS: It definitely doesn't feel real for me right now. I don't know when the realization will kick in. It's definitely just an amazing situation to be in, especially knowing that I was lucky loser.

I think I found a picture of me sleeping the day I got in. I was just trying to spend the time at the venue, trying to do something because I didn't really know what to do with my time. I was just preparing for my flight the next day.

It's definitely an insane story, also for me, how it happened, how fast it happened. It's been just a couple of days. Those days have totally changed my life. So definitely really thankful.

I don't know, feeling a little bit empty right now 'cause it's just a lot happening.

Q. You punted your flight, and you haven't picked a new date?

EVA LYS: We actually changed the flight to tomorrow (laughter). Right now I think after the press conference we're going to go and try to change it a little bit further. It's actually really funny. We just picked a date. We're like, Okay, Sunday is six days away. We're just going to pick Sunday.

So yeah, it's actually pretty funny. I'm glad we have to change it now.

Q. This has been a dream tournament for you. You get to go out and play like you've got nothing to lose. For someone like Iga, she's out here trying to defend points.

EVA LYS: Definitely, I'm always saying that the reason I'm playing that well is because my arm is so loose, I have nothing to loose.

I do know that those players definitely have to -- I don't know if they put a little bit of pressure on themselves, but I know it's not going to be an easy match.

I also think I'm not going to get underestimated in round four. I see that I do have chances. I'm just going to try and play my best tennis. I think she definitely will have to work a little harder to get that win.