The gay tennis players smashing down barriers at the Australian Open 2024
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The Australian Open 2023 officially kicked off in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday, January 14th, and this year’s tournament is notable for the presence of several out gay tennis players. While women’s tennis has long provided some of the biggest LGBTQ+ names in sport, the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour continues to lag behind in terms of LGBTQ+ representation. As of now, there are currently no out gay players on the men’s tour, and no professional male tennis player has come out publicly while still actively playing the game.
American former world number 57 Brian Vahaly, who came out publicly as gay in 2017, shed light on some of the barriers faced by gay male players. In an interview with The Telegraph in 2018, Vahaly revealed that he heard homophobic comments all the time in the locker room, both to his face and behind his back. This culture of homophobia has undoubtedly contributed to the lack of openly gay male players in professional tennis.
However, there is hope for progress. American men’s top 10 player Taylor Fritz expressed his belief that an out gay male tennis player would be accepted on the tour. He made this statement in 2022, but as the 2023 US Open approached, there were still no openly gay male players in sight.
While progress may be slow on the men’s tour, the women’s game continues to provide LGBTQ+ representation. The Australian Open 2024 features several out gay women’s tennis players who are carrying the torch for a new generation. One of the highest-profile out gay tennis stars on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour is Russian player Daria Kasatkina. Kasatkina, who is seeded 14th at this year’s tournament, came out publicly in July 2022. She confirmed her relationship with Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako via Instagram. Kasatkina has been an outspoken critic of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the country’s anti-gay political culture, even if it has come at great personal cost. She stated that it is unsafe for her to return home as a gay person who opposes the war.
Another out gay player to watch at the Australian Open 2024 is Argentinian tennis star Nadia Podoroska. Podoroska, who is unseeded at this year’s tournament, came out publicly in October 2022. In an Instagram post, she confirmed her relationship with fellow Argentinian tennis player Guillermina Naya. The former French Open semi-finalist received congratulations from LGBTQ+ trailblazer Billie Jean King, who commended her courage in living authentically.
Belgium’s Greet Minnen, who is unseeded at the Australian Open 2024, was previously in a high-profile relationship with fellow Belgian tennis star Alison Van Uytvanck. The couple made history in 2019 when they became the first same-sex couple to play doubles together at Wimbledon. Minnen’s public coming out took place at the tournament the year before when Van Uytvanck rushed over to kiss her in the stands after defeating defending champion Garbiñe Muguruza.
Other out gay women’s tennis players not competing at the Australian Open this year include Alison Van Uytvanck herself, who has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility on the tour, and her former partner Guillermina Naya. British player Tara Moore, who is currently in a relationship with American player Emina Bektas, and Swiss player Conny Perrin, who was previously engaged to Moore, also represent the LGBTQ+ community on the tour.
While the presence of out gay women’s tennis players at the Australian Open 2024 is encouraging, there is still a long way to go in terms of LGBTQ+ representation in professional tennis, especially on the men’s tour. The barriers faced by gay male players, including homophobic comments and cultural norms, must be addressed in order to create a more inclusive and accepting environment for all athletes. As the tournament unfolds, it is important to celebrate the achievements and visibility of the out gay women’s tennis players who are smashing down barriers in the sport.
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