Twenty-four-year-old German tennis player Eva Lys has voiced her criticism of the German media’s coverage of women’s sports, citing an excessive amount of negativity. “Criticism is, of course, part of sports. But the way it is often formulated feels much more demeaning than constructive,” she stated, emphasizing that local female athletes, in particular, should receive more encouraging coverage instead of a consistently negative one.
“Fundamentally, I am happy about any form of reporting. Especially when it comes to women’s sports, which has not received the attention it deserves for a long time. However, a differentiated and respectful tone would be even more important. What I always notice is the consistently negative basis of many headlines and comments,” said Lys, echoing a sentiment shared by other German athletes she has spoken with.
“I find it questionable that female athletes are judged with an obviousness that has little to do with the reality on the court. Performance sports are complex and cannot always be compressed into simple evaluations.”
“It is obvious that I am not in top form at the moment, having had to observe a two-and-a-half-month break. Nevertheless, it should be possible to talk about it in a factual and fair manner. It is important for me to clarify that I am not talking about all journalists. Especially in one’s own country, support and order should be the priority, not blanket negativity.”
Lys posted this on her Instagram stories, accompanied by screenshots of two headlines following her recent first-round elimination at the Madrid Open. She lost 6-4, 6-3 to China’s Zhang Shuai on Wednesday. This marks her sixth loss in her last seven matches, and she has been sidelined for two and a half months due to a knee injury.
Eva Lys admits that losing ranking points takes a toll on her self-confidence.
Lys, ranked 72nd globally, has won 3 ITF titles and reached a career-high ranking of 39th in January. Her best Grand Slam performance was reaching the quarterfinals of the 2025 China Open. Very active on social media, where she often speaks about athletes’ mental health, she stated in her post-match interview that losing matches and ranking points impacts her confidence and mental well-being.
“Everyone adores you when you win, but if you lose, nobody is there. That’s why you have to surround yourself with a good team,” Lys said (via Tennis Temple). “Many players need to work on their mental health. I do it myself. I’m going to therapy. Last year, I went through periods where I wasn’t doing well mentally. The pressure we put on ourselves and the pressure that comes from outside… there are so many factors that make us anxious. That’s why I have immense respect for everyone in the top 10, top 20.”