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The U.S. Open hosted s very first Pri, and out tennis player Nick Lee was there to ask: where are the other gay men?

Contents:

5 ACTIVE TENNIS PLAYERS WHO HAVE E OUT AS GAY OR BISEXUAL, FT. DARIA KASATKA & SAMANTHA STOSUR

Let’s be clear right om the start. None of the athlet are nfirmed to be gay or anythg like that. The purpose of this list is to go a b more pth about some of the mors that are surro * tennis players who might be gay *

The 25-year-old went on to speak about how homosexualy is treated Rsia, before statg that there is nothg easier the world than beg straight. Over the years, several tennis players have announced that they are eher gay or bisexual, wh ins Billie Jean Kg and Marta Navratilova beg the most well-known.

Currently, there are a number of players who have e out as eher gay or bisexual, and here are five of them.

TOP 10 ATHLET WHO ARE RUMORED TO BE GAY

* tennis players who might be gay *

99 Greet Mnen beme well-known for her relatnship wh Alison van Uytvanck, and the two were for long among the most popular gay upl tennis. “This reflects years of rearch that I have nducted on smaller sl, all showg athlet are more fortable wh gay teammat than most anyone thought possible, ” Dr Anrson told Outsports.

“Athlet across sports and across genrs love their gay teammat, and they support their gay teammat, and this go beyond differenc of sexual orientatn.

Sce then there have been var other gay players on the women’s Tour, cludg Alison Van Uytvanck who is a relatnship wh Greet Mnen. “I have been personally imprsed wh the iative of the ATP and their sire to fd ways to migate the broad impact of homophobic behavur ( particular), not only on gay people, but on all players.

THERE ARE NO PUBLICLY OUT GAY PRO MALE TENNIS PLAYERS AND NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHY

There are a handful of out gay tennis players offerg val LGBTQ+ reprentatn at Wimbledon 2023 - but the men's game still lags behd. * tennis players who might be gay *

The purpose of this list is to go a b more pth about some of the mors that are surroundg the players, not to nvce the rear that the athlet are gay. In fact, as society is now much more open to people no matter their orientatn, we have seen a ton more athlet, both active and retired, e out and adm that they are homosexuals, and 's absolutely a great thg. This list will look at some of the most high profile exampl of pro athlet who have had mors about beg gay surroundg them, but aga, none of those are nfirmed and even if they were nfirmed, they would be somethg to celebrate.

His ex-wife has acced him of beg gay and that Dunn’s lover om llege actually lived wh them for the first few years of their marriage.

This mor was that a member of the New York Mets was gay and people were speculatg that was Piazza. Qutns about Aikman's sexual orientatn have been around for s and the mor was started by Skip Bayls, when, his book, he stated that Troy Aikman might be gay. As a former men’s llegiate tennis player and openly gay member of my team, this qutn nagged at me as I attend the monumental first ever Pri event at the U.

THE GAY TENNIS PLAYERS SMASHG DOWN BARRIERS AS WIMBLEDON 2023 GETS UNRWAY

Gay llege tennis players offer theori as to why no ele pro players are out, wh the solo nature of the sport beg a key. * tennis players who might be gay *

As a former llegiate tennis player and gay man, this event stck a particularly sensive chord for me.

After all of the homophobia I have personally experienced sports, the panelists and the packed dience gave me so much hope for the future of cln sports. The trailblazer for gay visibily on the ATP tour scribed himself durg the panel discsn as “an anx guy and an anx tennis player, ” statg that his disfort wh his sexual orientatn throughout his life was a signifint ntributor to his anxiety. To me, the fact that Vahaly was even able to make on tour as a closeted gay man the 2000s mak him que an anomaly.

The days, top players Roger Ferer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have all publicly stated that they would wele an out gay man to the ATP.

QUERREY: ‘THERE’S GOT TO BE SOMEONE WHO PLAYS TENNIS WHO IS GAY’

Taylor Frz said that if a men's player on the ATP Tour me out as gay, he would be weled by his peers, the top-ranked Amerin told tennis publitn Clay. * tennis players who might be gay *

While we now celebrate Kg for her acplishments as a gay rights activist, the sacrific she had to make and terrors that she endured for wantg to be her thentic self after beg outed towards the end of her profsnal tennis reer – nearly 40 years ago – are unjtifiable. Statistilly speakg, there mt be a man the top 100, 200, 500 or even 1, 000 who is gay, right? Combe that wh gay and bisexual men reprentg a signifintly smaller portn of the populatn than heterosexual men, and the odds of havg one of makg through the ranks growg up and currently beg a profsnal tennis player are slim, no matter how welg players such as Ferer, Djokovic and Murray are 2019.

There uld be someone makg their way up the rankgs junrs right now, who hopefully will not be terred om tennis for beg a gay or bisexual man, who will see events such as the U. As Rippon highlighted, g out and beg labeled as “that gay athlete” is not easy to al wh. Wimbledon 2023 is officially unrway – weather permtg – but spe the All England Club’s all-whe le, there are a handful of out gay players offerg some val rabow LGBTQ+ reprentatn at tennis’s most prtig tournament.

Sce the days of trailblazg gay Grand Slam champns Billie Jean Kg and Marta Navratilova, women’s tennis has long provid some of the biggt LGBTQ+ nam sport – and there are currently several players Women’s Tennis Associatn (WTA) tour rryg that torch for a new generatn. However, the men’s Associatn of Tennis Profsnals (ATP) isn’t currently jt laggg behd, ’s yet to even cross the startg le: There are currently no out gay players on the men’s tour and no profsnal male tennis player has e out publicly the Open Era while still playg the game. Amerin former world number 57 Brian Vahaly me out publicly as gay 2017, a after retirg om the sport, and shed light on some of the barriers faced by gay male players.

THERE WILL BE NO OUT GAY MALE TENNIS PLAYERS AT THE U.S. OPEN, YET AGA

Amerin former world number 57 Brian Vahaly me out publicly as gay 2017, a after retirg om tennis. “I heard homophobic ments all the time the locker room – to my face, behd my back.

In 2022, men’s top 10 player and former Wimbledon quarter-falist Taylor said he believed an out gay male player would be “accepted” on the tour, but as Wimbledon rolls around for another, the wa go on. In the meantime, here’s a n-down of the out gay women’s players to look out for the Wimbledon 2023 ma draws – as well as a few others who aren’t makg an appearance at SW19 this year, but are still reprentg for the LGBTQ+ muny on the tour. Rsia’s Daria Kasatka says she’s unable to return home as a gay person who oppos the vasn of Ukrae.

Rsian tennis star Daria Kasatka beme the hight-profile out gay tennis star on the WTA tour when she me out publicly July 2022. In the year sce, Kasatka has been an outspoken cric of Rsia’s vasn of Ukrae and anti-gay polil culture – even if ’s e at great personal st.

TOP NAM COME IN SUPPORT OF OPENLY GAY PLAYERS ON THE MEN’S TOUR

As a gay person who oppos the war, ’s not possible to go back, ” she told The Tim July 2023. I wanted to say my posn on the war and my [sexualy], which was tough, g om a untry where beg gay is not accepted, but felt like I had a backpack of ston on my shoulrs and I jt had to throw off.

"IF THERE'S A GAY PLAYER THE LOCKER ROOM, NOTHG HAPPENS" - DIEGO SCHWARTZMAN, THE LATT STAR TO SUPPORT THE LGBTQ MOVEMENT

Schuurs me out as gay as a teenager and has stated her sire to be a role mol for young LGBTQ+ people.

“You only live once, so you have to be happy and don’t need to strs about beg gay or not.

FRZ SAYS OPENLY GAY PLAYER WOULD BE ACCEPTED ON ATP TOUR

Out gay Brish player Tara Moore is a former world 145 player sgl and former top 100 player doubl.

The sportg world hasn't been ignorant of the discsn, and many athlet the recent past have found themselv fortable enough to e out as gay or lbian.

Unlike several other sports, where homosexual athlet have received ser backlash and threats, tennis has been largely open and non-homophobic. Here is a list of five homosexual tennis players who have achieved a lot of succs:.

WHY ARE THERE NO OPENLY GAY MALE TENNIS PLAYERS?

Raymond has been quoted as sayg: "I me out bee I knew that there would be life after tennis, and beg gay and playg tennis is not a big al. Today, she is an ternatnal lear seekg regnn and equal rights for gays and lbians. The most famo homosexual tennis player recent tim, Amelie Mrmo has been there, done that.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* TENNIS PLAYERS WHO MIGHT BE GAY

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11.00pm</time></div><div class="_31gDS" data-ttid="ArticleTools"><div class="_26BHG"><button aria-scribedby="articleToolsLogTooltip" class="JSEcE WiPOW" data-click-outsi-ignore="te" data-ttid="SaveArticle-button" type="button"><span class="DcglW _3KahZ"><svg class="_1SIxy" focable="false" height="1em" aria-hidn="te" width="1em"><e xlk:href="#in-bookmark"></e></svg></span><span class="_1dFpl">Save</span></button><div class="G-AXw _3Xjsv" id="articleToolsLogTooltip" role="tooltip"><div class="_3sIJa" data-ttid="SaveArticle-tooltip"><button class="__V_M" type="button">Log </button> or <a class="_3NFfI" data-ttid="SaveArticle-subscribeLk" href=">Subscribe</a> to save article</div></div></div><div class="_332VY" data-ttid="ArticleSocialShare"><button class="_1whEj _3jOVc" data-ttid="ArticleSocialShare-buttonShare" type="button"><span class="_1cmVb _1hJaj"><svg class="_1SIxy" focable="false" height="1em" aria-hidn="te" width="1em"><e xlk:href="#in-share"></e></svg></span><span class="_35K">Share</span></button></div></div></sectn></sectn><div class="_1YPgH"><div class="tl7wu"><p>At first glance, men's tennis appears a mol of diversy. At next week's Atralian Open, the first grand slam of the year, there will be 10 untri and five ntents reprented the world top 10 alone. As Jamie Murray puts : "We have players om all over the world, all different cultur, many walks of life."</p><p>And yet spe of the multiculturalism, there is still one great anomaly at the heart of the men's game: the absence of any openly homosexual players. In almost 150 years of beg an anised sport, only two openly gay men have ever played at ele level, both of whom peted primarily before the World War II: multiple grand-slam champn Gottied von Cramm, who was arrted for homosexualy Nazi Germany, and Bill Tiln, the Amerin 10-time major wner.</p><p>A third gay player, Ameri's former world No 63 Brian Vahaly, me out publicly 2017, a after he had retired. Vahaly revealed that a handful of profsnal players, and about 30 at junr and llege level, had told him privately that they were gay, but had opted agast gog public.</p><figure class="gzJMC unfed NvmVw" data-pb-type="im"><picture><source media="(m-width: 1180px)" width="620" height="349" srcSet="zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_620%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02, zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_1240%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02 2x" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":1.777778,"type":"landspe16x9","width":620,"urls":["zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_620%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02"," zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_1240%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02 2x"]}"/><source media="(m-width: 1020px)" width="620" height="349" srcSet="zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_620%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02, zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_1240%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02 2x" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":1.777778,"type":"landspe16x9","width":620,"urls":["zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_620%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02"," zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_1240%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02 2x"]}"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" width="696" height="392" srcSet="zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_696%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02, zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_1392%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02 2x" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":1.777778,"type":"landspe16x9","width":696,"urls":["zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_696%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02"," zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_1392%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02 2x"]}"/><img alt="" class="_1srKI" data-ttid="Image-image" src="zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_620%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02" srcSet="zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_382%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02, zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_764%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02 2x" siz="(max-width: 767px) 382px" data-id="835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":1.777778,"type":"landspe16x9","width":382,"urls":["zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_382%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02"," zoom_1%2C$multiply_1%2C$rat_1.777778%2C$width_1326%2C$x_5%2C$y_347/t_crop_ctom/c_sle%2Cw_764%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/835029c2eeace17f9b39f6c8afa513af846e02 2x"]}" width="382" height="215"/></picture><figptn class="LuHig"><p>Amerin Brian Vahaly, pictured at the Atralian Open 2004, me out 2017.<!-- --> <ce class="_23SOU">Viki Lasris</ce></p></figptn></figure><p>Vahaly is sure there are many more, and wants to create as welg an environment as possible to help them e out, should they want to. They are, he believ, sred of revealg their te selv.</p><p>In the absence of LGBT trailblazers such as Billie Jean Kg and Marta Navratilova the women's game – and more recent openly gay players, such as Belgium's Alison Van Uytvanck – Vahaly looks to have his work cut out. Bee the qutn is not whether there are more gay male players, but why there is still a taboo around homosexualy. The realy is that homosexualy men's tennis will be most discsed this year relatn to Margaret Court, the 24-time grand-slam wner.</p></div></div><asi class="_3JfHJ"></asi><div class="ZAfSI"><div class="adWrapper _3XglG Hqxcp" data-ttid="ad-wrapper"><div class="" id="adspot-320x360_320x50_300x250_300x50-pos2-mobile"></div><div class="" id="adspot-728x90-pos2-tablet"></div><div class="" id="adspot-970x250_728x90-pos2-sktop"></div><small class="_3azTn">Advertisement</small></div></div><div class="_2J452"><div class="_33oUB"><div class="tl7wu" id="endOfArticle"><p>Court, a Pentestal mister, regularly nounc homosexuals, but the send-biggt arena at the Atralian Open still bears her name, spe pleas om Kg and others to rebrand .</p><h2>'Courageo move'</h2><p>Acrdg to the players themselv, men's tennis has never been more welg. <em>Telegraph Sport</em> spoke to 25 players at the ele level, om world No.1 Novak Djokovic to doubl players further down the hierarchy, and the majory sisted the locker room would support someone g out. Djokovic's view was typil: "I see that as a urageo move. I wouldn't have anythg agast that. It's everybody's right to have sexual orientatn as they sire, any kd of directn life they sire. I rpect ."</p><p>Roger Ferer, Kev Anrson, John Isner and Mar Cilic exprsed siar sentiments.</p><p>Neher would a gay player have to fear beg mercially ostracised, which was a nsiratn for Vahaly. Que the oppose: the ditns are that many pani would celebrate the urage of someone g out and sh to support them.</p><figure class="gzJMC unfed NvmVw" data-pb-type="im"><picture><source media="(m-width: 1180px)" srcSet="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=, data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-srcset="width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3, width_1240/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3 2x" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":0,"type":"raw","width":620,"urls":["width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3"," width_1240/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3 2x"]}"/><source media="(m-width: 1020px)" srcSet="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=, data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-srcset="width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3, width_1240/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3 2x" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":0,"type":"raw","width":620,"urls":["width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3"," width_1240/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3 2x"]}"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=, data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-srcset="width_696/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3, width_1392/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3 2x" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":0,"type":"raw","width":696,"urls":["width_696/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3"," width_1392/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3 2x"]}"/><img alt="" class="_1srKI" data-ttid="Image-image" src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-src="width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3" srcSet="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=, data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-srcset="width_382/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3, width_764/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3 2x" siz="(max-width: 767px) 382px" data-id="4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":0,"type":"raw","width":382,"urls":["width_382/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3"," width_764/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/4f3d0a9f0feacc37dce60a65997b3c319d9fe2a3 2x"]}"/></picture><figptn class="LuHig"><p>Bill Tiln (1893-1953) was one of the few openly gay male players.<!-- --> <ce class="_23SOU">Hulton Archive</ce></p></figptn></figure><div class="ZAfSI"><div class="adWrapper _3XglG _35ekj Hqxcp _3_nxH" data-ttid="ad-wrapper"><div class="" id="adspot-320x360_320x50_300x250_300x50-pos3-mobile"></div><div class="" id="adspot-728x90-pos3-tablet"></div><small class="_3azTn">Advertisement</small></div></div><p>"There's far greater unrstandg of the issu now, and there would likely be a great al of tert om mercial backers," says Nigel Currie, a sports marketg nsultant.</p><p>Tennis also benefs om the absence of partisan crowds, which uld rce the fear players have g out. And yet, spe of this supposedly hospable climate, tennis's wa for a first openly gay active male player sce the 1940s ntu. Why?</p><p>Jt Gimelstob, the former world No.63 who <a href=">is fendg himself agast asslt allegatns</a> the US, offered an sight to the locker room culture 11 years ago. "The locker room uldn't be a more homophobic place," he said. "We're not gay-bashg. There's jt a lot of normal hetero talk about pretty girls and workg out and drkg beer."</p><p>Vahaly endors that view – he says he heard homophobic ments all the time this perd – and while there is ltle doubt that locker-room attus have sce bee more progrsive, there are isolated cints which give pse for thought. Ukrae's Sergiy Stakhovsky said 2017 that he would not enurage his dghter to play tennis bee "on the WTA tour, almost every other player is a lbian", while Pierre-Hugu Herbert, a three-time doubl grand-slam champn, believ would be harr to e out than some outsirs realise. "I don't thk 's gog to be easy bee there is so much homophobia," he suggts.</p><figure class="gzJMC unfed NvmVw" data-pb-type="im"><picture><source media="(m-width: 1180px)" srcSet="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=, data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-srcset="width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31, width_1240/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31 2x" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":0,"type":"raw","width":620,"urls":["width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31"," width_1240/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31 2x"]}"/><source media="(m-width: 1020px)" srcSet="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=, data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-srcset="width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31, width_1240/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31 2x" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":0,"type":"raw","width":620,"urls":["width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31"," width_1240/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31 2x"]}"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=, data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-srcset="width_696/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31, width_1392/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31 2x" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":0,"type":"raw","width":696,"urls":["width_696/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31"," width_1392/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31 2x"]}"/><img alt="" class="_1srKI" data-ttid="Image-image" src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-src="width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31" srcSet="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=, data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-srcset="width_382/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31, width_764/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31 2x" siz="(max-width: 767px) 382px" data-id="882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":0,"type":"raw","width":382,"urls":["width_382/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31"," width_764/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/882beee140236aa313e7e758ffc6ada11c9d6b31 2x"]}"/></picture><figptn class="LuHig"><p>Billie Jean Kg, left, and Marta Navratilova were trailblazers for lbian players.<!-- --> <ce class="_23SOU">RON FREHM</ce></p></figptn></figure><h2>Place of ignorance</h2><div class="ZAfSI"><div class="adWrapper _3XglG _35ekj Hqxcp _3_nxH" data-ttid="ad-wrapper"><div class="" id="adspot-320x360_320x50_300x250_300x50-pos4-mobile"></div><div class="" id="adspot-728x90-pos4-tablet"></div><small class="_3azTn">Advertisement</small></div></div><p>There is also a more subtle lack of unrstandg om some players that helps to expla why a player might feel unfortable g out. While Herbert and I spoke, his doubl partner Nilas Mahut twice ma jok about the pair beg a gay uple. Other doubl players, such as Colombia's Robert Farah, ma siar jok that were not necsarily homophobic tent but seemed to e more om a place of ignorance.</p><p>It was also cur to hear how many players said they would wele a gay player, but only if they showed "rpect". The former Wimbledon doubl champn Marcelo Melo, for stance, said: "If they keep rpect wh the players, I'm not gog to stop talkg to someone who says they're gay. But he has to have rpect a lot, this is the most important thg. I thk you have problems when they don't rpect each other."</p><p>Geography n also play a part amg attus, wh many players on tour g om untri where homosexualy is largely abhorred.</p><p>Herbert believ " would be easier for someone om certa plac but maybe not somewhere Rsia", while grand-slam doubl falist Juan Sebastian Cabal says, of his native Colombia, "we're still a b more nservative. If you go to towns and smaller ci, 's way more judged".</p><figure class="gzJMC unfed NvmVw" data-pb-type="im"><picture><source media="(m-width: 1180px)" srcSet="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=, data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-srcset="width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b, width_1240/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b 2x" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":0,"type":"raw","width":620,"urls":["width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b"," width_1240/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b 2x"]}"/><source media="(m-width: 1020px)" srcSet="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=, data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-srcset="width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b, width_1240/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b 2x" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":0,"type":"raw","width":620,"urls":["width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b"," width_1240/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b 2x"]}"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=, data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-srcset="width_696/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b, width_1392/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b 2x" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":0,"type":"raw","width":696,"urls":["width_696/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b"," width_1392/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b 2x"]}"/><img alt="" class="_1srKI" data-ttid="Image-image" src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-src="width_620/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b" srcSet="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=, data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-srcset="width_382/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b, width_764/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b 2x" siz="(max-width: 767px) 382px" data-id="c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b" data-pb-im-nfig="{"aspectRat":0,"type":"raw","width":382,"urls":["width_382/t_rize_width%2Cq_88%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b"," width_764/t_rize_width%2Cq_52%2Cf_to/c8d266b822a7103890812e0707068ccfa015ba2b 2x"]}"/></picture><figptn class="LuHig"><p>Naomi Cavaday, the former Brish No.3, believ the locker room n be a btal place, where opponents will latch on to anythg they thk will make their opponent unfortable.<!-- --> <ce class="_23SOU">Rui Vieira</ce></p></figptn></figure><p>Even players who hail om liberal untri evably live sheltered liv wh the profsnal tennis bubble, away om the diverse reali of many of the ci they are playg on tour. It is no surprise they make the odd ment that might make someone unfortable about revealg their te sexual inty.</p><div class="ZAfSI"><div class="adWrapper _3XglG _35ekj Hqxcp _3_nxH" data-ttid="ad-wrapper"><div class="" id="adspot-320x360_320x50_300x250_300x50-pos5-mobile"></div><div class="" id="adspot-728x90-pos5-tablet"></div><small class="_3azTn">Advertisement</small></div></div><p>"Most players don't have a lot of exposure to LGBT people themselv, and so they don't know what they don't know," Vahaly says. "So much of what I learned about myself was after I me out."</p><p>Changg attus wh the locker room is one challenge; is que another to expect someone to embrace the role of advote for gay players, and the maelstrom of publicy that would surely follow.</p><p>"I don't have an advocy personaly," Vahaly says, addrsg his reluctance to e out and be fed as "the gay tennis player" while he was still active on tour, or the years afterwards when he first entered to a same-sex relatnship.</p><p>Now he is a father, however, Vahaly feels a sense of rponsibily to be open. "My life changed when I had tw boys," he says. "But I rpect and unrstand that a gay player now may say, 'Hey, this isn't my gig and I don't want to be that person.'"</p><h2>'Potential weakns'</h2><p>There are good reasons to thk this uld also put that player at a disadvantage their day job. Naomi Cavaday, the former Brish No.3, believ that the locker room n be a btal place, where opponents will latch on to anythg they thk will make their opponent unfortable, and the notn that a player's honty about their sexualy uld be exploed by an opponent sperate to fd an edge is not far-fetched.</p><div class="ZAfSI"><div class="adWrapper _3XglG _35ekj Hqxcp _3_nxH" data-ttid="ad-wrapper"><div class="" id="adspot-320x360_320x50_300x250_300x50-pos6-mobile"></div><div class="" id="adspot-728x90-pos6-tablet"></div><small class="_3azTn">Advertisement</small></div></div><p>Ined, acrdg to Andy Lane, a sports psychologist at the Centre for Health and Human Performance, one of the most nsistent tras sports people is hidg any characteristic that uld be seized upon as a pot of differentiatn. "Sport is all about protectg your ner self, and top athlet will whhold anythg they thk uld be a potential weakns," Lane says.</p><p>The Atrian doubl specialist Alexanr Peya agre. "Sure, g out mak you vulnerable to that sort of thg [cricism]. Anythg that maybe uld be explored as a weakns. Beg gay is not a weakns, of urse, but I thk 's jt the way sport works. It's man agast man or team agast team. If you're open to talk about somethg that worri you or is tricky some moments, 's not always easy."</p><p>If a gay male player is to break the mould the sport the next 10 to 20 years, as Vahaly hop, then enuragg openns and acceptance will be paramount.</p><p>The Associatn of Tennis Profsnals has pledged to rporate more discsn of LGBTQ issu as part of s welfare programme, as well as more knowledge sharg wh the Women's Tour Associatn, but at the moment the ma driver is g om elsewhere.</p><p>Amerin tennis journalist Nick McCarvel has been at the foreont of promotg the clivy msage, hostg an event wh Vahaly ahead of the US Open to try to enurage unrstandg. After the succs of the event, McCarvel will host another discsn before the Atralian Open, this time wh former basketball star and gay trailblazer Jason Colls.</p><p>So, as 2019 begs, are we any closer to havg an openly gay male player?</p><p>"Absolutely," Vahaly says. "It needs a person who is at the top of their game and nsistently playg at the grand slams to say, 'Hey, this is me, take or leave '. But they mt also regnise that the world and the sport supports them. It's jt gog to take the right person at the right time."</p><p><em>-The Telegraph London</em> </p><p class="_2OMuZ">The Telegraph London</p></div><div class="_3E2eQ"><div class="_3nTt0" data-ttid="ArticleFooter"><div class="_30U_H"><div class="_26BHG"><button aria-scribedby="articleFooterLogTooltip" class="JSEcE uxhXB" data-click-outsi-ignore="te" data-ttid="SaveArticle-button" type="button"><span class="DcglW"><svg class="_1SIxy" focable="false" height="1em" aria-hidn="te" width="1em"><e xlk:href="#in-bookmark"></e></svg></span><span class="">Save</span></button><div class="_2jGyo _3Xjsv" id="articleFooterLogTooltip" role="tooltip"><div class="KNEjM" data-ttid="SaveArticle-tooltip"><button class="__V_M" type="button">Log </button> or <a class="_3NFfI" data-ttid="SaveArticle-subscribeLk" href=">Subscribe</a> to save article</div></div></div><div class="_332VY" data-ttid="ArticleSocialShare"><button class="_1whEj E-qQO" data-ttid="ArticleSocialShare-buttonShare" type="button"><span class="_1cmVb"><svg class="_1SIxy" focable="false" height="1em" aria-hidn="te" width="1em"><e xlk:href="#in-share"></e></svg></span><span class="">Share</span></button></div></div><div class="_28OFW"><div class="nEW5f"></div></div></div><div class="_3QtdZ" data-ttid="ArticleTags"><div class="_27M2O _2-Rvi" data-ttid="NewsfeedArticleDriver" role="alert"><hear class="_1slp0"><h2 class="_2iSlc">Introducg your <span class="_3jl0N">Newsfeed</span></h2><button class="_1aHhd" data-ttid="NewsfeedArticleDriver-close" type="button"><svg class="_1SIxy" aria-labelledby="newsfeed article driverclose-tle" focable="false" height="1em" aria-label="Close" role="img" width="1em"><tle id="newsfeed article driverclose-tle">Close.

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