Eva Lys gets off to a flying start as 2024 Fed Cup champions | ATP Tour

federation cup

Reese helps 2024 Confederations Cup champions get off to a flying start

Zverev vs Grikspur

January 4, 2026

Determined Eva Lys got 2024 Fed Cup champions Germany off to a strong start in Group F action in Sydney on Sunday, beating the Netherlands’ Suzan Lamens 6-2, 6-2.

Rice was in trouble after losing her only match on the WTA Tour against Lamens at the 2024 WTA Mercedes-Benz Level Tour in Osaka, but at this year’s tournament, Rice was in charge in virtually every first match between the two countries and the first Fed Cup match of Rice’s career.

Pure talent from Lys and Lamens 👏 pic.twitter.com/mBUOyAxtBr

— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 4, 2026

After switching defenses twice in the first five games, Rice won two key games to take a 5-2 lead and rarely looked back. She denied a game point from Lamenz and tied the score at 3-3. Then she broke serve with her third break point in the sixth game and maintained serve after falling behind 15/40.

This is a snapshot of the conflict that lasted for one hour and thirty-nine minutes. Nine of the 14 games in this competition were tied, with Reese winning seven of them. Perhaps the most important match came in the second set when the German led 1-1, during which she shook off an injury scare. Leading 5-2 in the first game, Rice took a medical timeout for blisters, but she took another fall, causing her knees to shake.

“As soon as I stepped on the court and saw how many people were watching…I was actually nervous,” Reese said. “First of all, I definitely ran the marathon with Susan. I did really well on the most important points.

“I feel like I’m playing very simple and not too aggressive, which I feel is key,” she added, saying her physical issues “definitely could have been worse.”

PIF ATP world number three Alexander Zverev will give Germany his title shot when he takes on captain Talon Grikspoor. Zverev leads the Lexus ATP Head2Head series 8-2.