"Talentless dog, you're a disgrace": Eva Lys and Maria Sakkari encounter vile abuse after Tokyo losses

Wednesday, 22 October 2025 at 14:30

Maria Sakkari and Eva Lys showcased the vile abuse that continues to be sent especially to female tennis players after defeats in which often the people in question stake money on their wins or losses.

Lys lost easily on Wednesday morning against Victoria Mboko at the Pan Pacific Open with the Canadian starting to have a bit of a resurgence this tournament. But it also saw a bit of a darker side when it comes to losing matches, often something that Lys showcases on her story.

As a player in Lys' case who is active on social media and has gained a bit of a following since her rise including for her sense of humour which often accompanies these stories, she has also made a point of showcasing screenshots from her DM's often featuring men going from sending her messages commenting on her looks to then sending her vile abuse when she loses.

This time it was a collage of multiple messages both on her DM's and also posts including abuse aimed at her family with pictures of her and her parents targeted. "Talentless dog," one wrote. Another told her she should stay on OnlyFans and said "I wish you never again able to step on any court you talentless overrated b**ch."

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Another wrote: "You're a pretty looking slut, just retire wtf you keep playing for." Lys herself accompanied said story by saying "Tennis is fun, until it's not."

It has been a landmark season for the German who had her incredible run from lucky loser to the latter stages of the Australian Open. But she now sits at a high of mid 40's in the world and continues to build amid runs to the Quarter-Final of the China Open recently. But she also lost 6-1, 6-1 to Mboko today who up until this week had not won a match since winning Montreal. But it shows the vile side of the sport and she wasn't the only one to experience this.

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Sakkari also receives abuse after Fernandez defeat

Maria Sakkari also received abuse which she showcased on her Instagram. Sakkari lost yesterday in Tokyo to Leylah Fernandez who won a title last week so isn't exactly the best player to stake a claim on anyway. But it showed the nasty side once more at a similar time to Lys also receiving abuse.

One in particular wrote: "From playing WTA Finals to whatever it is you're doing right now, you're a disgrace. An abomination that should not exist. I hope someone does something about it and they should make it as painful as possible."

This in turn alongside the other screenshots below saw Sakkari make a statement about the matter saying it is something that all tennis players go through but that it gave her time to think also on her own season and how it has been difficult for her knowing that she was at the peak of her powers for many years and is now struggling.

"I usually don't do this, but I just wanted to share a few words. There's really nothing to say about the messages I've received after my match, every tennis player gets them almost every day. What I do want to say is that it's been a challenging season, definitely below my own expectations," said Sakkari on Instagram.

"It hasn't been easy to accept that after competing at the highest level for years, I'm not here I want to be right now. I'm grateful for the people around me and for my fans who continue to believe in me through it all. It wasn't the season I hoped for but good things are coming and to everyone who doubts me, my goal isn't to prove you wrong but to prove myself right. See you in 2026."

Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.

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