“I love you very much”: Brazilian ATP Star becomes the first active male tennis player to come out as gay

World No. 367 Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva shared an Instagram post celebrating his anniversary with his partner. The Brazilian becomes the first active male tennis player to publicly come out as gay.

In the world of men's tennis, there have been no players who have come out as gay until now, unlike their female counterparts, with pioneers like Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova, or current players like Daria Kasatkina, have paved the way.

Homosexuality in sports remains a rarely discussed topic, especially in men’s tennis, where no active player has publicly come out. The few historical cases include Brian Vahaly, a former World No. 57 who came out as gay after retiring, and German player Gottfried von Cramm, a two-time French Open champion. Von Cramm faced legal accusations and imprisonment for his sexuality and reportedly financed the escape of his partner, Jewish musician Manasse Herbst, to Palestine in the 1930s.

The women’s game tells a different story. Legends Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova have long advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, creating a path for others like Daria Kasatkina, Nadia Podoroska, and Belgian partners Alison Van Uytvanck and Greet Minnen to openly share their stories.

This time, it was Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva who set a milestone by sharing his truth. The 24-year-old Brazilian posted a carousel of photos with his partner, writing, “Happy anniversary, happy life, I love you very much.” The post received positive comments from fellow Brazilian players, including Thiago Monteiro, Pedro Boscardin, and Gustavo Heide.