Eva Lys, Harriet Dart and Francesco Passaro achieved a rare feat at Australian Open 2025.
They became the first trio of lucky losers to advance to the second round of the tournament since 1988, its inaugural year at Melbourne Park and the first AO to feature 128-player singles draws.
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For three players who initially had an “L” next to their names, their first-round performances proved anything but that.
But what exactly does it mean to be a lucky loser?
When a main-draw player withdraws—sometimes mere minutes before their match—a qualifier who lost in the final round is elevated to the main draw to replace them, giving them a second chance to compete.
According to the 2024 Official Grand Slam Rule Book, lucky losers must remain on-site, signed up, and ready to play within five minutes for men’s events or 15 minutes for women’s events following the announcement of a withdrawal.
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It’s a demanding position to be in, mentally and physically. Imagine thinking your tournament journey ends with a loss in the final qualifying round, only to be thrust unexpectedly back into the spotlight?
This year, Lys, Dart, and Passaro turned that abrupt opportunity into success, making their unexpected runs a standout story of round one.
British player Dart got the call-up to replace former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in a match against qualifier Jana Fett, days after losing to Nao Hibino in straight sets during the final round of the qualifying competition.
Dart had thought her time at Melbourne Park was over, yet shared she had received unexpected news to the contrary from supervisor Donna Kelso while in the locker room “chilling.”
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“The first match was already on, so not that long, but because it was a men’s match gives you a little more time,” Dart said.
Reflecting on the unique mindset of a lucky loser, Dart emphasised the importance of seizing the opportunity. She also pointed out that playing against lucky losers can be risky for opponents because they have nothing to lose by “being dead already.”
She came close to continuing her unlikely run, winning the first set against Wimbledon semifinalist and Olympic silver medallist Donna Vekic on Wednesday before the 18th seed rebounded to win in three.
Passaro, meanwhile, stepped in as a lucky loser against No.10 seed Grigor Dimitrov, replacing fellow Italian Fabio Fognini.
Passaro, who lost to Nikoloz Basilashvili at the final hurdle in qualifying, ultimately overcame the injured Dimitrov, who retired due to a hip injury with Passaro leading 7-5, 2-1.
He described the late call-up as a valuable opportunity to compete against a top player like Dimitrov.
“This is my first win in the Grand Slam main draw. So I want to say, like, thanks and sorry to Fabio, that he got injured. It gives me the chance to play today,” he said.
Passaro is currently playing some of his best tennis, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 104 and recently making the final of the ATP Challenger Maia Open in November.
The 24-year-old, who had never before competed in a Slam main draw, eventually fell in four sets to Benjamin Bonzi in the second round.
But Lys remains alive at Australian Open 2025.
The 22-year-old delivered an exceptional performance in the first round, defeating Aussie Kimberly Birrell 6-2 6-2.
Lys was called up just before the match following the withdrawal of 13th seed Anna Kalinskaya.
“I found out 10 minutes before the match, so I didn’t have time to get nervous. I think that was the thing that really helped me. I had a pretty loose arm,” she said.
Lys revealed she wasn’t exactly in prime match-ready condition when the call came, being on the physio table getting treatment while the Berrettini-Norrie match – preceding the Kalinskaya-Birrell match on the same court – was in its final stages.
“I was panicking a little bit because I didn’t really prepare my drinks. I didn’t have match clothes on. So I went to the locker room, got changed straight away, and then they called my name. So no warm-up, no anything. Maybe that’s the key for the next match,” she explained.
Despite losing her last qualifier to Aussie Destanee Aiava in a tough three-set battle, Lys credited the mindset of being a lucky loser for her improved approach.
