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World No.307 becomes second male player to come out as gay
The First Serve • December 3rd, 2025 12:39 pm
Switzerland player Mika Brunold has become the second professional male tennis player to come out as gay, despite "pressure to stay quiet".
The 21-year-old mirrored 25-year-old Brazilian João Lucas Reis de Silva, who openly shared his sexuality with the public in December 2024.
"As a professional tennis player, I've spent countless hours working on my game, my body, and my mindset," Brunold wrote on Instagram.
"Through all of this, one of the most important things I've learned is that success on the court isn’t just about physical skill - it's about discovering your personality and staying true to yourself.
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"I've been thinking a lot about how to talk about this. And while it hasn't always been easy, hiding it and pretending to be someone I'm not was never an option.
"That's why I feel it's time for me to open up and share with you that I'm gay."
He added: "Being gay doesn't mean loving the same gender - it also means dealing with things most people never have to think about.
"The fear of not being accepted, the pressure to stay quiet, the feeling of being different. But I’ve grown. And I'm proud of who I am today.
"I'm sharing this with you to take a step for myself, but also because I think it's not talked about enough in sports. I believe that in an ideal world, we wouldn't even need to 'come out' at all."
Brunold achieved a career-high ranking of No.289 in August earlier this year.
