Daily Dose of Social Media: Eva Lys's priceless reaction to Australian Open prize money - Ben Shelton’s big win: from dancing to a signature blooper
Tennis News
In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, Eva Lys shared a couple of funny moments with her honest reactions. The German was absolutely stunned when she heard the prize money she earned for reaching the 4th round of the Australian Open, and also joked after finding out she wasn’t the only one who suffered a bagel at Rod Laver Arena this Monday.
On the other hand, the ATP stars tried to describe the Aussie Open in one word and selected the 'happiest player' on Tour. Additionally, Victoria Azarenka and Holger Rune shared emotional messages after their exits from the first Grand Slam of the year.
Eva Lys's reaction to her prize money at AO
World No. 128 Eva Lys had a remarkable reaction when she was told the prize money she had earned for reaching the 4th round of the Australian Open. The 23-year-old German tennis player had the best performance of her career at a Grand Slam, making it to the Round of 16 after entering the main draw as a lucky loser due to her loss in the third qualifying round.
Lys stunned the tournament by beating Kimberly Birrel, Varvara Gracheva, and Jaqueline Cristian to secure a spot among the last 16 as the lowest-ranked player left in the competition. She faced Iga Świątek and lost 0-6, 1-6, in a result that will surely be a memorable one for the German, who didn’t expect to advance so far in the tournament.
In an amusing behind-the-scenes moment as she prepared to shoot a social media video of the Australian Open, Lys also had a funny reaction to the realization that she wasn't the only one who was bageled at Rod KAver Arena that day, as she watched De Minaur's match with Alex Michelsen on TV (6-0, 7-6, 6-3).
"not only me" eva when she realised she wasn't the only player to be bagelled on rod laver today 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/hEs6yUgrlY
— Lisa 🧚🏻♀️ (@lisa_talking) January 20, 2025
In a recent interview, Eva was told about the prize money she had earned, a subject she hadn’t yet realized, and was astonished to learn that she had accumulated 72,000 Australian Dollars for reaching the third round of qualifying and an additional 420,000 for the Round of 16 (a total of just over 308,000 USD). Over her career, she had earned 798,163 USD since her professional debut on the ITF Circuit in the US in 2016, nearly nine years ago.
When she was told the figure during the interview, the presenter mentioned the 420,000 AUD she had earned for the Round of 16, and Lys had a hilarious reaction of surprise. “Did you not know about that?” he asked. “Because I’ve never gone so far in a tournament. That’s insane. That’s a number I’ve never even heard of in my life.”
Describing the Australian Open in one word
In a new video from Tennis Channel and the ATP, some of the top players on the men's tour were asked to describe the Australian Open in just one word. One of the most repeated words was "Electric," with Carlos Alcaraz, Alex de Minaur, and Ben Shelton all using it.
Other words used by stars like Hubert Hurkacz, Alexander Zverev, Gaël Monfils, and Karen Khachanov included "Happy," "Sunny," "Hot," "Fun," and "Amazing." The word that grabbed the most attention, however, was from Frenchman Arthur Fils, who chose "Cold" ironically, sparking the most comments on the post.
On the other hand, in a video shared by the official Cincinnati Open accounts, ATP stars – a few months ago – chose who the ‘happiest player’ on tour is. Although the answers varied, some of the most mentioned include Carlos Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe, and Gaël Monfils. Check below to see who took the top spot according to the players themselves, with contributions from players like Zverev, Musetti, Rune, and even two who received votes, Tiafoe and Alcaraz.
And the Happiest Winner is…
— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) January 20, 2025
Tiafoe (6)
Alcaraz (4)
Monfils (3)
Shelton (2) pic.twitter.com/h9w5HsTVj7
Shelton’s big win: From dancing to a signature blooper
Ben Shelton reaches the quarterfinals of a major for the third time in his young career and the second time at the Australian Open, showcasing a great level of play that has made him one of the surprises among the top 8. The American advanced from the 4th round after a tough battle against Gaël Monfils, who had to retire as the 4th set began, with Shelton leading 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 1-0.
In a video captured by the cameras at Melbourne Park, the American player is seen in the hallways before facing Monfils, showing his great energy and cheerful spirit as he dances with his headphones on before heading out to face Monfils.
After securing the win, Shelton made a fun blooper when he went to sign the camera lens for the official broadcast. The marker they gave the American didn’t work very well, leaving a signature that was a bit hard to read. Surely, the American is hoping for another chance to sign the lens after facing Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the quarterfinals, looking for a spot among the top 4 of the tournament.
The marker malfunctioning while Ben Shelton was signing the camera 😭 pic.twitter.com/t3lW1w3fPM
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 20, 2025
Victoria Azarenka's special Australian Open video
Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka shared a special video of her journey through the tournament, undoubtedly one of the most special events in the career of the former world No. 1. The video includes a compilation of her media appearances, training sessions, and her arrival at Show Court Arena for her first-round match against Lucia Bronzetti, where she suffered an early exit.
Azarenka also appears in the video enjoying time with colleagues like Paula Badosa and Kei Nishikori. Despite her early departure, the Belarusian left an emotional message: "My Australia swing was nowhere near how I wanted it to be results-wise, but looking back at it, there is still a lot to smile about. So, thank you, Australia 🇦🇺🐨☺️🤍 That being said, time to get back to work!!."
Rune wishes Sinner best of luck after Australian Open defeat
Holger Rune left a special message for his colleague Jannik Sinner after being defeated in the 4th round of the Australian Open, wishing the World No. 1 good luck in his pursuit of defending the title. The Dane had moments of good form, especially between the second set and the start of the third, but ultimately succumbed to Sinner's impressive level of play. Despite struggling with health issues midway through the match, Sinner triumphed 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Rune reached the Round of 16 for the second time in Melbourne and continues to struggle with deep runs at Grand Slams. So far, he has three quarterfinal appearances, two of them at Roland Garros, and still falls short of the results expected from the Dane. Nevertheless, he can be satisfied with his good level of play in the tournament and has risen to World No. 12, looking closer to a return to the top 10.
“Mentally a super challenging match for both of us. I will take a lot of learning with me from today and continue the good work. Best of luck the rest of the way @janniksin 🏆 @AustralianOpen,” the former World No. 4 posted.
Mentally a super challenging match for both of us. I will take a lot of learning with me from today and continue the good work. Best of luck the rest of the way @janniksin 🏆 @AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/c5nMbn2M1a
— Holger Rune (@holgerrune2003) January 20, 2025
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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