Former Russian Tennis Player Sofya Zhuk Reveals Her Old Fans Are Bullying Her Over Instagram Photos

Remember the story of the 22-year-old Australian soccer player who quit his professional soccer job because of online bullying, even though he barely had a presence online? Yeah, that one didn't make sense. Now comes the story of a former rising star Russian tennis player, Sofya Zhuk, and the bullying she's dealing with in her new modeling career. Injuries prematurely ended her tennis career when she was only 20, but there are tennis fans out there who haven't come to terms with Zhuk doing topless photoshoots as part of her modeling life.

Zhuk, who won a Wimbledon junior title at 15 and finished her professional tennis career in 2019 with $398,717 in career earnings, says she shared a photo showing her arm over her chest. There was no nudity and nothing out of the ordinary for the social media site. Her old tennis fans lost it. They thought of Zhuk as the next Maria Sharapova, but this one photo sent them over the edge.

“I didn’t quite get what was the big deal,” Zhuk told Russian outlet Sport Express.

“I posted a photo, so what? When I share something, I’m not trying to send any message. I’m just posting a picture that I like. But when I shared that photo, I received an avalanche of messages. Normally I wouldn’t bother about them, but this around they were so aggressive. I just think people simply can’t accept that I’ve found myself outside tennis, that I can live happily without sport and not sinking into depression.”

This is where Sofya needs to hear some advice: DON'T READ THE COMMENTS. POST YOUR PHOTOS AND AVOID THE COMMENTS LIKE YOU AVOID COVID. IGNORE THE COMMENTS. DON'T LET THE MISERABLE PEOPLE BRING YOU DOWN. 

Don't be like the Australian guy who threw away his career and let the bullies win. Stay strong, keep posting the topless IGs and maybe one day you'll reach the summit and receive an invitation to a Dan Bilzerian party. Don't give up on those dreams.