Tennis player João Lucas Reis comes out as gay, breaking barriers in men’s tennis

Tennis player João Lucas Reis has made history by coming out as gay, sharing a heartfelt photo with his boyfriend, Guy Sampaio Ricardo, in celebration of his birthday. Reis posted the picture on Instagram, captioned: "Happy birthday. Happy life. I love you so much."

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Currently ranked 401 in the ATP rankings, Reis' announcement is groundbreaking, as he becomes the first active male professional tennis player to openly identify as gay. His decision to come out could serve as a significant step toward breaking down long-standing barriers in men’s tennis.

Previously, Brian Vahaly, a former world No. 64, came out in 2017, but only ten years after retiring. He admitted he feared the repercussions of being open about his sexuality while still playing, citing pervasive homophobia in men’s tennis.

The atmosphere in women’s tennis has been markedly different, with several active players openly identifying as lesbians. One notable example is Russian tennis star Daria Kasatkina, who came out in 2022 and is in a relationship with Olympic figure skating medalist Natalia Zabiiako.