Australian Open: Rybakina marches on, lucky loser Lys makes history

Australian Open history was made at Melbourne Park on Saturday, as lucky loser Eva Lys beat Jaqueline Cristian.

Lys hit back to beat world number 82 Cristian 4-6 6-3 6-3.

In the process, she became the first lucky loser to reach the fourth round of the women's singles draw at the Australian Open.

The German's reward for her history-making victory will be a meeting with world number two Iga Swiatek, who made light work of Emma Raducanu in her third-round match.

1 - Eva Lys is the first lucky loser to reach the Women’s Singles Fourth Round at the Australian Open since the event moved to Melbourne Park in 1988. Dream.#AO2025 | @AustralianOpen @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/eZ8JSX6QVn

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 18, 2025

Elena Rybakina, meanwhile, overcame a back injury to defeat Dayana Yastremska 6-3 6-4 at John Cain Arena.

Rybakina had to receive treatment during the first set, but recovered to claim a third consecutive straight sets win to continue her excellent campaign.

"Honestly I didn't know how it was going to go because it came all of a sudden," said Rybakina, a beaten finalist at the Australian Open in 2023.

"I didn't expect it and it was not easy, I knew that it would be very difficult for me to stay long in the rallies, I was trying to play aggressive and sometimes risk a little bit more – really happy that it went my way in the end."

Asked if her pain had eased, the 2022 Wimbledon champion said: "Not really, so I am going to see my physio and he will hopefully do some magic."

Resilient Rybakina An injury-troubled Elena Rybakina fights her way into the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Dayana Yastremska.#AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/tpzkh3dIn5

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2025

Sixth-seeded Rybakina, who has dropped just 12 games so far, will face either Danielle Collins or Madison Keys in the next round.

Rybakina is 12-1 at the Australian Open after taking the opening set, with that sole defeat coming when she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the final two years ago.

She has now claimed 14 wins at Melbourne Park, meaning she has only won more matches at Wimbledon among the majors.

Emma Navarro, meanwhile, secured passage to the last 16 with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 defeat of three-time grand slam Ons Jabeur.

"Yeah, for sure," said Navarro when asked if she felt she was finding her form after a third consecutive match that has gone the distance.

"It was tough coming back to match play after a little bit of a longer off-season.

"With each match I'm finding myself a little bit more on the court. I think it was definitely the best match I've played so far this year. I'll be hoping to continue that form as the tournament goes on."

The eighth seed will take on ninth seed Daria Kasatkina in the fourth round.