The gay tennis players smashing down barriers at the Australian Open 2025

The first Grand Slam event on the 2025 tennis calendar, the Australian Open, got underway in Melbourne on Sunday (12 January), and there are several gay tennis players offering some vital rainbow LGBTQ+ representation. Since the days of trailblazing gay Grand…
Santos Cummings · 8 days ago · 2 minutes read


LGBTQ+ Representation in Tennis: Shining Bright at the Australian Open

Trailblazers of the Past

Women's tennis has been a beacon of LGBTQ+ representation since the legendary days of Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova. Today, numerous WTA players continue to carry the torch, inspiring a new generation.

Breaking Barriers in the ATP

The ATP tour has faced a significant lag in LGBTQ+ representation. However, history was made in 2024 when Joã̃o Lucas Reis da Silva became the first active male pro tennis player to come out publicly.

Despite the progress, homophobia continues to linger in the men's locker room, as revealed by former world number 57 Brian Vahaly. "I heard homophobic comments all the time in the locker room... That was just a part of the culture," he recalled.

Out Gay Women Lighting Up the Australian Open

Daria Kasatkina (Russia)

Daria Kasatkina emerged as the most prominent out gay tennis star in 2022, openly acknowledging her relationship with Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako.

"It's unsafe for me now... As a gay person who opposes the war, it's not possible to go back," she has said, facing consequences for her outspoken opposition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Nadia Podoroska (Argentina)

Former French Open semi-finalist Nadia Podoroska publicly came out in 2022, confirming her relationship with fellow Argentinian tennis player Guillermina Naya.

Greet Minnen (Belgium)

Greet Minnen became part of the historic moment in 2019 when she played doubles with Alison Van Uytvanck, marking the first time a same-sex couple had participated in Wimbledon. Their relationship ended in 2021 after they had become engaged in 2020.

Demi Schuurs (Netherlands)

Doubles specialist Demi Schuurs came out as gay as a teenager and seeks to be a role model for LGBTQ+ youth.

"I remember the feelings I had when I came out, so I want to help younger people understand that they should be how they want to be," she has stated.

Other Gay Tennis Players on the WTA Tour

  • Guillermina Naya (Argentina)
  • Emina Bektas (USA)
  • Tara Moore (Great Britain)
  • Conny Perrin (Switzerland)