Tennis

Top 5 famous tennis players from the LGBTQ+ community

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Let us take a look at some of the most famous tennis players who happen to be homosexual

Daria Kasatkina has become the latest tennis player to openly come out as gay. However, this is not something new in the tennis fraternity. Tennis is arguably one of the world’s most gay-friendly sports. Many former champions are openly gay, and those include the greatest of champions.

Here’s a list of five tennis players who have revealed their homosexual identity in the past.

5. Amelie Mauresmo

The most famous homosexual tennis player in recent times, Amelie Mauresmo has been there, done that. She has been World No.1, won Grand Slam titles and an Olympics medal, and even been a successful coach.

Before the final of the 1999 Australian Open, she came out (about her girlfriend) in an simple yet strong fashion: “You can say she’s my girlfriend. You can write about her. I don’t want to hide Sylvie. I love her.”

France’s Amelie Mauresmo poses with the Wimbledon trophy after winning the Women’s Singles final at the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London, United Kingdom, Saturday, July 8, 2006. Amelie Mauresmo defeated Justine Henin-Hardenne in three sets to become the first French woman to win the Wimbledon tennis title in 81 years. Photographer: Jed Leicester via Bloomberg News ORG XMIT: BUDGET 7/8/06

4. Rennae Stubbs

Stubbs – a six-time Grand Slam champion, has a reputation for being frank and honest about her sexuality. She said she got plenty of positive reinforcement and positive comments from fans after she came out. She was in a long term relationship with former doubles partner Lisa Raymond.

3. Gigi Fernandez

Fernandez came out publicly as a lesbian at a time when her career was at its peak. Fernandez won 17 Grand Slam doubles titles and two Olympic gold medals while representing the United States of America. She is also a former World No. 1 in women’s doubles.

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2. Billie Jean King

King has always been an advocate for sexual equality, and she even won “The Battle of the Sexes” tennis match in 1973. She first got married to Larry King, but their relationship grew increasingly distant as her career blossomed. In the late 1960s King began to have relationships with women.

She kept her attraction toward and relationships with women hidden for a long. In 1981, she reluctantly came out as a lesbian when Marilyn Barnett (an ex-lover and personal secretary) filed a very public palimony suit.

Billie Jean King standing on court holding the Venus Rosewater Dish with the Doubles Trophies on a tablein front of her on Centre Court at The Championships 1973. At The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon. 1973. Credit – AELTC/Michael Cole

1. Martina Navratilova

Navratilova is considered to be one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. She has an incredible haul of 59 Grand Slams. Navratilova came out publicly in 1991 through The Advocate. As a consequence, she started losing support from her sponsors and was treated like a pariah in the world of tennis. Her lesbianism was considered in contrast to the image that women’s tennis was trying to display.

March 9, 2015 – Indian Wells, California, United States of America – MARTINA NAVRATILOVA observes AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA practicing in preparation for the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Gardens in Indian Wells California on Monday 9 March 2015. Tennis 2015 – BNP Paribas Open – Qualifying Day 1 – ZUMAl132

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Sarbik Dutta

My heart races on the F1 track and tennis courts, translating the adrenaline of each moment into words. While F1's speed thrills and tennis's finesse captivate me, my passion doesn't stop there. As a devoted follower of cricket, football, and various Olympic sports, I find myself engulfed in the highs and lows of these games. Through my writing, I aim to share the stories behind the stats, the emotions fueling the victories, and the struggles that define the journey of athletes across diverse disciplines. Being a voice that echoes the fervor of these sports is a privilege I cherish every day.

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