Sofya Zhuk, a former Wimbledon junior champion, faced an 'avalanche' of abuse after sharing a topless photograph on Instagram in 2020. The Russian beauty, now 25, has since moved on from tennis to a new life in Miami, working in the luxury car rental business.
From Tennis Stardom to Modelling
Zhuk was tipped for greatness after winning the girls' singles title at Wimbledon in 2015 at age 15. However, a back injury cut her professional career short. She reached a world ranking of No. 116 before retiring. In 2020, she posted a tasteful topless photo on Instagram, posing with her back to the camera, which garnered over 4,500 likes but also sparked criticism.
In an interview with RT, Zhuk said: 'I didn't quite get what was the big deal. 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 [topless] photo, I received an avalanche of messages. Normally I wouldn't bother about them, but this [time] around they were so aggressive.'
Life After Tennis
Zhuk now lives in Miami, where she initially pursued modelling but has since transitioned into the luxury car rental industry. Her Instagram feed features photos of her posing with high-end vehicles and enjoying the Miami lifestyle, often in bikinis. She has thousands of followers on social media.
In a lengthy Instagram post, she explained: 'Every day I get questions about if I stopped playing tennis and why and when or if I will be back. I want to make it clear that I understand why you want to know and my answer is - I have not played for seven months now because for a few years I've been struggling with serious injuries and always had to play with lots of pain. I loved tennis but it got to the point where I wanted to be pain free and mentally be able to live freely and think about my health and future.'
Zhuk continues to share captivating snaps of herself around Miami, with one of her most liked posts showing her in a white bikini on a balcony. Despite the criticism, she remains unbothered, stating that people 'simply can't accept that I've found myself outside tennis, that I can live happily without sport and not sinking into depression.'
