Lucky losers are players who lose in qualifying at a tournament but receive a place in the main draw if someone withdraws through injury or illness.
Lys had her bags packed and a flight booked after losing in the final round of qualifying, but a place in the draw opened up when Russia’s Kalinskaya pulled out on Monday before her first-round match.
Lys was on site receiving treatment from the physio when the withdrawal was announced and was given 10 minutes’ notice before she took to court to face Australian Kimberly Birrell.
Despite being worried about the lack of preparation time, she came through 6-2 6-2 – and moved her flight to Sunday.
That flight will have to change again, with Sunday spent preparing for a match against five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek on Monday.
“Right now I think after the press conference we’re going to go and try to change it a little bit further,” Lys said.
“It’s actually really funny. We just picked a date. We’re like: ‘OK, Sunday’s six days away. We’re just going to pick Sunday.’
“I’m glad we have to change it now.”
When she does eventually fly home, she will be doing so at least A$420,000 (£210,342) richer – a marked difference on the A$50,000 (£25,300) Lys thought she would be taking away after losing in qualifying, and a boost to her career earnings of $798,163 (£655,413).
Lys has competed in all four majors but her best performance at a Slam before this was a US Open second-round appearance in 2023.
She is the sixth lucky loser to make the last-16 of a Grand Slam in the Open era but the first to do so in Melbourne. None have ever gone past the fourth round.
“Obviously I’m very happy to be making it to second week. I feel like second week was always such a dream for me,” Lys added.
