"Silva, who arrived in Melbourne this week, made history in late 2024 when he came out as gay by sharing a sweet snap of his partner Gui Sampaio Ricardo to celebrate his birthday. The 25-year-old then became the first out gay tennis pro to compete in a Grand Slam event. He is now set to continue making history by competing in the qualifying rounds of this year's Australian Open as the first gay man to do so."
"At the time of his coming out, Silva was ranked outside the Top 400 in the world. Since then, he has climbed more than 200 spots to a career-high ranking of No. 187 in the world, and in June last year he won his first ATP Challenger title in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In order to qualify for the Australian Open, Silva must win three matches to make the main draw."
"Silva's impact is undeniable, with Tony Hagen from the Gay Tennis Podcast telling QNews in August last year: "It marks a significant step towards greater LGBTQIA+ representation and acceptance. "In men's tennis, openly gay athletes have been extremely rare. His participation helps break down stigma and pushes the sport toward greater inclusivity and diversity." His openness has helped pave the way for other players to come out."
João Lucas Reis da Silva publicly came out in late 2024 by sharing a photo of his partner, then became the first openly gay tennis pro to compete in a Grand Slam. He arrived in Melbourne to attempt qualifying for the Australian Open, where he would be the first openly gay man to play in the qualifying rounds. Silva rose from outside the top 400 to a career-high No. 187 and won his first ATP Challenger title in Santa Fe in June. He must win three qualifying matches to reach the main draw. His openness has encouraged greater LGBTQIA+ visibility in men's tennis, and other players have followed, including Switzerland's Mika Brunold.
Read at PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news
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