Eva Lys should be celebrating her rise as Germany’s most promising young tennis talent. Instead, while fans analyze her recent loss to Leylah Fernandez at the Hong Kong Open, the 23-year-old is facing challenges that go far beyond the scoreboard.
For years, Lys has dealt with hateful messages after defeats. This time, the situation went much further. In a recent interview with Die Zeit, she revealed a series of disturbing incidents that show how online harassment can escalate into real-life danger. She explained that several individuals managed to find out the addresses of her training facilities, the hotels she stayed in and even specific room numbers. She described the behavior as crossing every possible boundary of personal safety. Working with the WTA, she has now implemented stricter security measures at tournaments.
Lys also shared that some individuals had become “obsessed” with her. It is a word she chose carefully because the pattern of behavior has affected her for years.
I also recently had to deal with stalkers who had obtained the addresses of training grounds, hotels and even the room numbers… That crossed every line
A problem that many preferred to ignore
One of the most troubling parts of her story is that she says this issue was often brushed aside. The abuse began when she was only 16. After nearly every loss, she would receive hundreds of hateful messages that targeted not only her but also her family. Some threats were graphic enough that she now avoids checking Instagram after matches. She said that staying silent only allows the cycle to continue.
Her experience fits the findings of a 2024 WTA study that reviewed 1.6 million online posts. More than 8,000 were classified as violent. More than 450 players received hate messages in a single year and authorities opened a dozen investigations. Lys has begun reporting more of the threats she receives. She already filed one after her straight-sets loss to Coco Gauff at the China Open.
A rare look at what players deal with
Last month, The Tennis Letter shared a screenshot of one of the violent messages Lys received. She had posted it to her own Instagram story to show fans what players experience away from the spotlight. Her intention was not to ask for sympathy. She simply wanted to show the reality that many professionals face.
Her story mirrors what Naomi Osaka faced in 2022. Outlets such as ESPN and The Guardian reported on the backlash Osaka received after posting a photo from the Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay, a moment that led her to take a break from social media for her well-being.
Lys believes that speaking openly is the only way the culture around tennis will change. She hopes that by revealing her experiences, the sport will finally confront a problem that has been ignored for far too long.
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