Eva Lys ends tennis season early due to arthritis struggles

Eva Lys ends tennis season early after grueling struggles with arthritis and ranking drop

German tennis player Eva Lys announced the premature end of her season on social media, describing the period as one of the hardest years of her life due to persistent health problems and physical exhaustion, Tagesspiegel reported. The 24-year-old closed her campaign following a defeat in Beijing—her 19th loss across 27 matches this year—failing to advance past the round of 16 at any WTA Tour event.

Ranking slide and high expectations

The difficult run on the circuit marks a sharp decline for the German athlete, who opened the year inside the top 40 of the WTA singles rankings before slipping to world No. 136. Lys noted in her statement that she had entered the season carrying high expectations, major goals, and fresh enthusiasm following her previous year’s performances, only to find her body and mind unable to sustain the physical demands of the tour.

Medical adjustments for chronic arthritis

A primary driver of Lys’s physical struggles remains chronic inflammatory arthritis, a joint condition that proved particularly stubborn to manage throughout the season. After more than six years of living and competing with the diagnosis, Lys and her medical team opted to completely revise her treatment regimen. While acknowledging that the major shift will take time to yield results, she expressed hope that the adjustment represents a necessary step toward recovery.

Public appeal against online harassment

Alongside her athletic setbacks, Lys has frequently spoken out against targeted hate comments directed at athletes across social media platforms. In her end-of-season announcement, she issued a direct appeal for public empathy and patience, reminding observers that individuals often carry unseen burdens behind the scenes.

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