UPDATE 11pm: Unseeded Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has ended the dream streak of Ukrainian lucky loser Lesia Tsurenko in the Brisbane International semfinals with a come-from-behind victory on Friday night.
There are lucky losers – and then there’s Tsurenko. The world No.116 re-defined the tennis term before her luck ran out against Pavlyuchenkova.
Tsurenko, 23, was downed 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 after a remarkable run of fortune.
She was a very lucky loser indeed when she received the call-up to replace world No.2 Maria Sharapova after the reigning French Open champion withdrew from the Brisbane event with a collarbone complaint earlier this week.
It was revealed on Friday that there were two higher ranked players who had also bowed out in the final round of qualifying like Tsurenko.
But unlike Tsurenko, the pair did not officially sign in to be available for a lucky loser call-up and so were not considered when Sharapova pulled out.
Instead Tsurenko slotted straight into the second round due to Sharapova’s opening round bye – and did not look back.
Tsurenko bagged $US46,487 ($A44,613) as a Brisbane semi-finalist.
Her previous biggest pay day was $US35,181 ($A33,763) after getting into the 2012 Australian Open second round.
Pavlyuchenkova will take on world No.3 Serena Williams – the reigning US Open and Wimbledon champion – in Saturday night’s final.