German tennis stars Eva Lys and Yannick Hanfmann crash out early in Miami
Two German tennis players faced early exits at the WTA and ATP 1000 tournaments in Miami this week. Eva Lys, returning after a two-month injury break, lost her opening match in straight sets. Yannick Hanfmann also bowed out in the first round of the men's competition.
Eva Lys, the 24-year-old from Hamburg, had not competed since injuring her knee in Sydney in early January. Ranked world No. 77, she took on Yuliia Starodubtseva in her comeback match. The Ukrainian proved too strong, winning 6-1, 6-4.
Lys admitted to struggling with her timing and power, particularly on groundstrokes and serves. The lack of match practice during her recovery was evident throughout the game. In the men's draw, 34-year-old Yannick Hanfmann from Karlsruhe also made a quick exit. He fell to 19-year-old Spanish qualifier Rafael Jódar in a three-set battle. After splitting the first two sets 4-6, 6-4, Hanfmann lost the decider 1-6.
Both players now leave Miami without advancing beyond the first round. Lys' return to competition follows a lengthy recovery, though no details have been shared about her future tournament schedule. Hanfmann's defeat marks another early exit in a challenging season.
