The life of a WTA star on the professional circuit comes with its fair share of challenges that go way beyond just playing the game. Female athletes often deal with a lot of public scrutiny, face online harassment that can turn into real-life stalking, and live in a culture that frequently expects them to sacrifice their personal identities completely. The pressure to fit into this narrow, stoic image of a professional athlete really puts a heavy, often unspoken, mental load on them. These stigmas really box players in, implying that the only way to succeed is by being super determined and totally hiding their personalities off the court.

In a refreshingly candid conversation on the Tennis Insider Club podcast, 23-year-old German sensation Eva Lys spoke out against this very issue, directly challenging the toxic stereotypes that constrain female athletes. She articulated the pervasive pressure with remarkable clarity, stating, “There’s such a big stigma to female athletes, how they’re supposed to be. How they have to show themselves like, we have to work. And sacrifice everything. And we can’t have fun, and we can’t be pretty outside court and you don’t have to dress up like you need to be like this tough woman. And, um, I feel like that’s bullsh*t.”

For Lys, this philosophy is not just talk; it is a necessary component of her success. She has found that her best performances come when she is not obsessing over results but rather appreciating the process and allowing herself to enjoy life, a balance she fiercely protects. Lys’ advocacy for a more holistic approach to an athlete’s life is informed by her own difficult journey.

After breaking into the Top 100 for the first time, she expected more money and fewer worries, but instead found herself burdened by intense pressure and the fear of losing her hard-earned ranking.

She reached a point just before Wimbledon where she realized, “I thought life would get easier. I thought I’d have more money, fewer worries. But it was the total opposite. I had so much pressure, I practised twice as hard, and right before Wimbledon, I realised I wasn’t having fun anymore—and I’ve had fun my whole life.” Her outspoken stance is part of a broader willingness to address difficult topics within the sport.

Eva Lys didn’t hold back

Eva Lys has opened up about the not-so-glamorous aspects of fame, like dealing with stalkers who have gotten hold of her hotel room numbers and facing a constant wave of online hate. She shares these experiences to highlight the tough realities that players often encounter. Lys shared some pretty unsettling experiences, saying, “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.” Lys even mentioned that some people had gotten a bit “obsessed” with her, really crossing the line when it comes to personal safety.

She mentioned that by collaborating with the WTA, she’s implemented new security measures to keep herself safe. She talked about the constant flow of hateful messages and threats she gets online after losses, sharing some of them publicly to highlight the reality that players deal with. “But it was hushed up for a long time. If you don’t talk about it, nothing will ever change. After every defeat. A thousand hate messages sent directly to my inbox,” she said.

There were a lot of graphic threats, with some pretty violent descriptions aimed at her, her mother, or her family. She’s gotten into such a habit of it that she skips Instagram right after matches because she already knows what’s coming her way.