Eva Lys could hardly hold back her emotions after sealing the biggest milestone of her career — reaching her first-ever WTA 1000 quarter-final at the China Open. The 23-year-old German battled past McCartney Kessler 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to book her spot in the last eight, a victory that also guarantees her long-awaited debut in the world’s top 50.
A Breakthrough Week on the Biggest Stage
For Lys, Beijing has been more than just a tournament — it’s been a statement. In one of the most competitive WTA 1000 events of the season, packed with elite names, she has showcased composure, grit, and belief. Remarkably consistent throughout 2024, Lys has contested nearly every WTA 1000 event this year, scoring at least one win in all but Indian Wells. But this run has elevated her from promising contender to genuine force.
Dominant Start and Rising Challenges
Her campaign began smoothly with a 6-1, 6-0 rout of wildcard Zhang, dropping just a single game in 54 minutes. Next came a far sterner test against teenage sensation Iva Jovic, fresh off her title run at the Guadalajara Open. After surrendering the second set, Lys mounted a stirring comeback from 2-5 down in the decider, sweeping five straight games to secure a dramatic 7-5 win.
That resilience would be tested even more in the round of 16, where she stunned former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina for her first-ever top-10 victory. In a gripping three-set battle, Lys saved two match points before finally converting on her third, dumping out one of the tournament favorites and proving she belongs among the sport’s elite.
Surging Past Kessler into the Top 50
Against McCartney Kessler, Lys once again had to rally. After dropping the first set, she stormed through the second with a commanding 6-1 and carried her momentum into the decider, building a 5-2 lead. Though she faced late pressure, Lys calmly closed out the match to complete another hard-fought triumph.
Lys vs Kessler – Full Match Stats
| Statistic | Lys | Kessler |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.26 | 0.79 |
| Serve Rating | 234 | 179 |
| Aces | 2 | 1 |
| Double Faults | 4 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 66% (50/76) | 55% (47/86) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 64% (32/50) | 53% (25/47) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 44% (12/27) | 39% (16/41) |
| Break Points Saved | 38% (3/8) | 50% (8/16) |
| Service Games | 62% (8/13) | 33% (4/12) |
| Ace % | 2.6% | 1.2% |
| Double Fault % | 5.3% | 2.3% |
| Return Rating | 225 | 193 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 47% (22/47) | 36% (18/50) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 61% (25/41) | 56% (15/27) |
| Break Points Won | 50% (8/16) | 63% (5/8) |
| Pressure Points | 46% (11/24) | 54% (13/24) |
| Service Points | 57% (43/76) | 45% (39/86) |
| Return Points | 55% (47/86) | 43% (33/76) |
| Total Points | 56% (90/162) | 44% (72/162) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 7 | 8 |
| Service Games Won | 62% (8/13) | 33% (4/12) |
| Return Games Won | 67% (8/12) | 38% (5/13) |
| Total Games Won | 64% (16/25) | 36% (9/25) |
| Max Games In A Row | 4 | 2 |
| Match Duration | 2h 06m | |
When the final ball landed, the joy was overwhelming. Tears and laughter marked the culmination of a week that has transformed her career trajectory.