Tennis Stars Face Threats from Stalkers and Harassment

BERLIN, Germany — On November 14, 2025, German tennis player Eva Lys, currently ranked world No. 40, spoke out about the terrifying experiences of being stalked during her career. Lys revealed that some individuals have acquired her hotel addresses and even specific room numbers, making her feel unsafe on the tour.

In an interview with a German newspaper, Lys described feeling harassed by obsessed fans. “Was it related to lost bets? I don’t know. They were clearly obsessed with me. That crossed all boundaries,” she said. Her revelation comes in a year when other players, including Emma Raducanu and Iga Świątek, have also faced harassment on and off the court.

A spokesperson from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) addressed the issue, stating, “The safety and well-being of our players are of utmost importance to the WTA. Our team works closely with tournament organizers and law enforcement to ensure a secure environment.” They noted that such incidents are rare due to proactive measures.

In February, at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Raducanu broke down in tears during a match after encountering a man who had approached her the day prior. This situation led to a restraining order against him. Just a month later, Świątek faced a threatening situation in Miami from a man who verbally abused her during practice.

This worrying trend continued throughout 2025. Yulia Putintseva paused her match at Wimbledon over concerns about a spectator she deemed dangerous, while Czech player Markéta Vondroušová cried during a U.S. Open match after spotting an ex-boyfriend in the crowd.

Many players have shared their stories of harassment. Danielle Collins talked about a fixated individual making harassing phone calls to her friends and family, while Katie Boulter recounted being followed in a car during a tournament. Coco Gauff, then just 15, faced a stalker who attempted to follow her home.

Lys expressed anger about the volume of social media abuse she receives, stating, “Thousands of hate messages leave no one unmoved.” In June, a joint report from the WTA and International Tennis Federation indicated that 15 abuse cases had been reported to law enforcement in 2024.

A WTA representative confirmed the organization’s efforts to evolve player safety measures, especially in the realm of social media. “We have implemented a service for our athletes to detect abusive content and assess threats to personal safety,” the spokesperson stated.

During recent Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers, Lys faced off against Zeynep Sönmez from Turkey but lost the match 6-2, 4-6, 6-0. Despite the defeat, she maintained, “I fought until the end. Zeynep is a great player and was the more dominant player on court today.” As she navigates her growing status in women’s tennis, Lys continues to grapple with the risks of being a public figure.