"They came together and tried to do something for the sport" - Battle of the Sexes had positive impact for sport according to Lys who indicates change of mentality

Eva Lys is continuing to break new ground, with her set to appear in a Grand Slam event for the first time without having to come through qualifying. She is full of confidence ready ahead of the Australian Open with her recent United Cup experience proving pivotal for her growth and progress in the sport.

It is set to be a third main draw appearance for Lys in Australia. Nevertheless, this is a very different player from the prior versions who entered Melbourne Park. In her press conference ahead of the event, she shared her joy to be back with a number of positives about the major tournament.

"I’m always very excited to come back to Australia. I feel like it’s one of my favourite tournaments — maybe related to last year’s run. But I love the people, I love the courts, the weather is great, and I just feel really good here. I’m excited for a good start."

Lys was at her competitive best against the world number two Iga Swiatek in the United Cup, making her debut for 2024 champions Germany. She came very close to upsetting the six-time grand Slam champion but could not get over the line. While a negative result, she was quick to highlight the immense progression she has made.

"First of all, I’m very happy that I’m coming closer and closer. If you look at my previous results against her, they were pretty easy for her, but I was always improving, and that’s what kept me going. I was very happy to at least get a set off her. We were both playing pretty well — she was the better player in the most important moments, which I still think about. I was really sad that I couldn’t win the match, but it gives me a lot of confidence knowing I can play at that level."

Her level has been rising since a very commendable Asian swing, with more work to do heading into the first major event of the year. "I’m definitely taking that into the next week. For me, it’s a process. It’s not about everything coming down to this one week — it’s more about comparing the player I was a year ago to the player I am now. That’s a really nice feeling."

One of the talking points of the off-season was the contentious Battle of the Sexes between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka. The event was hit with a plethora of criticism from tennis fans and pundits. In the end, it was the Aussie who took home an unsurprising victory.

For Lys, she enjoyed the occasion, believing that it increased the popularity of the sport. "I feel like I’m a fan of everything that gets the sport into the spotlight, and tennis was definitely in the spotlight there," she stated. "You had two amazing players. Nick Kyrgios is a Grand Slam finalist — that’s not easy. And Sabalenka, in my opinion, is one of the best players we have on tour right now, with an amazing personality. They came together and tried to do something for the sport, and a lot of people were talking about it. I’m here to help make the sport more popular."

This is the first time the German has had direct entry into the main draw for a Grand Slam event. This is something that she has immense pride for after a lot of hardwork and progression. It makes a great change from the stressful process of qualifying for the event through the increasingly brutal and tricky qualifying rounds.

Despite the change, she has not changed much with how she prepares for the event. "To be honest, even at other Slams, I’ve done similar things," she commented. "I didn’t always play many lead-up events, even when I had to play qualifying. It was nice that I could play the United Cup. I like coming to tournaments early to get used to the conditions because my body needs a bit more time to adapt to the courts, the weather — everything. That’s also why I came to Australia early."

Lys revealed that she was watching on the qualifying matches, with it an emotional process for her due to her knowing how those players feel with her past experience. "It does feel really nice to be in the main draw for the first time. I was watching some qualifying matches and rooting for them because I know how it feels — how nervous you get and how emotional it is," Lys mentioned. "Especially on the last day of qualifying, I get very emotional watching because that was me so many times. So I’m definitely cherishing the moment that I can just practise this week."

These last few months has seen Lys become a firm threat on the WTA Tour. A quarter-final in the China Open boosted her into the mainstream, and she has kept up the consistent streak which sees her firmly planted as the world number 39, a career-high.

A big part of that, she disclosed, was a growth in mentality, becoming one with the Tour and boosting her confidence and calmness on court. "Definitely mentally. Mentality is very important," she firmly answered. "It took me a couple of months to really get used to the tour and the opponents. I had a lot of tough matches at the beginning of last year that I didn’t win, but knowing that I’m coming closer and now also beating top players gives me the confidence I need. I go on court knowing that I have a certain level and that I belong there. It’s overall confidence and calmness on tour that I was missing a year ago. That’s a really nice feeling."

Lys is looking to defend an astonishing fourth round run from last year. Sorana Cirstea will be her first round opponent, with the Romanian in good form. This was not noticed at first by Lys, with the 24-year-old 'scared' to look at the draw beforehand.

"I didn’t look at the draw. I’m scared to check the draw," she said. "I just ask my mum or my team who’s playing who, or I look at the schedule. I know my opponent, and I keep it at that for now."

It's not the end of the world if she finds out beforehand, as she explained why she avoids finding out. "I’m pretty easy-going. Even if I find out, it’s not a big deal. But I know that I think a lot, and I don’t see a reason to think about the next round if I haven’t played the first one. I’ve been doing that my whole life."