In a watershed moment for professional tennis, Brazilian player Joao Lucas Reis da Silva has become the first openly gay active male professional in the sport.
Ranked No. 367 globally in singles, the 24-year-old athlete shared his truth with the world last week, embedding his announcement in a heartfelt birthday message to his boyfriend on Instagram.
“I’m really happy that people respect me; that people look at me, admire me maybe,” Reis da Silva reflected in his first interview following the historic declaration, expressing his gratitude for the overwhelming support he has received.
The tennis star revealed that he has faced a mere fraction of negative responses, describing the reaction as ‘99.9 per cent positive.’
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Reis da Silva’s journey to living openly began five years ago when he confided in his family and close friends about his sexuality. Since then, he has enjoyed a supportive environment, even receiving a personal message of encouragement from Brazilian music icon Lulu Santos.
Fellow athletes have also rallied behind him, with Brazil’s No. 1 tennis player leaving a heart emoji on his post, and Diego Hypolito, an openly gay silver medalist in gymnastics, liking the heartfelt photo.
“It’s been a crazy week, but in the end, it was perfect,” Reis da Silva remarked, reflecting on the days following his announcement. His decision to come out is particularly significant given the historic context of homophobia in tennis. Former world No. 57 Brian Vahaly, who came out seven years ago after retiring, has previously spoken about the prevalence of derogatory comments in the sport.
“I heard homophobic comments all the time—in the locker room, to my face, behind my back. That was part of the culture,” Vahaly explained in a 2018 interview with The Telegraph.
Reis da Silva’s experiences echo these sentiments, recalling similar negativity during his early days on the circuit. “In the locker rooms and at tournaments, I used to hear some things that kind of bothered me,” he shared.
However, he noted a shift in perception once he began to live openly, stating, “When I started to tell everyone that I’m gay and these people knew about it, they stopped saying these things. It’s like when they have someone close to them who is gay, they respect them more. They stop doing sh**** comments.”
Reis da Silva recently made the semi-finals of a tournament in Chile and on the weekend won the Procopio Cup in São Paolo, Brazil that was celebrated on Twitter by long time gay tennis player Billie Jean King.
“Congratulations to Joao Lucas Reis da Silva on winning the Procopio Cup in São Paolo, Brazil. Everyone deserves to live their life authentically.”
Congratulations to Joao Lucas Reis da Silva on winning the Procopio Cup in São Paolo, Brazil.
Everyone deserves to live their life authentically. https://t.co/Tz9AH6WTeh
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) December 16, 2024
Looking ahead, Reis da Silva is eagerly anticipating qualifying for next year’s Grand Slam events, aiming to make his mark on one of tennis’s biggest stages. With inspiring figures like Reis da Silva leading the way, the tennis community appears ready for a progressive shift towards greater inclusivity and understanding.
His courageous announcement serves as a beacon of hope for LGBT+ athletes and fans alike, signalling a brighter, more accepting future for the sport.
Last Updated on Dec 17, 2024
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