João Lucas Reis da Silva had one of the best weeks of his tennis career just after posting a selfie with his boyfriend on social media.
The Brazilian player won the Procopio Cup in December, closing 2024 on a high note. He believes his public display of love gave him extra strength on the court. A few days before his victory, he posted a birthday message for his boyfriend on Instagram, ending it with, “I love you very much.” The response was overwhelming. Messages of support poured in from people around the world, thanking him for his courage.
“It was a buzz I wasn’t expecting,” Reis da Silva told CNN Sport. Playing at the Procopio Cup that same week, he felt the positive reaction gave him energy when stepping onto the court.
His Instagram post made headlines, as it was widely reported that Reis da Silva was the first active male tennis player to come out as gay. While former players like Americans Brian Vahaly and Bobby Blair have come out after retiring, the men’s game has long lacked openly gay role models.
Women’s tennis, however, has seen prominent LGBTQ figures. Legends like Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova are strong advocates, and current world No. 12 Daria Kasatkina came out in 2022. Kasatkina recently spoke about the difference between men’s and women’s tennis, saying that society finds it easier to accept two women together than two men. She believes stereotypes about masculinity have made it harder for male players to come out.
In a previous interview, Vahaly recalled that homophobic language was common on the ATP Tour in the early 2000s, making it uncomfortable for gay players. However, he did not find the environment to be openly hostile.
Reis da Silva is unsure why there are fewer openly gay male players but believes the lack of role models plays a role. He also struggled with fears about how people in the tennis world would react.
“With my friends, my tennis friends, we always talk about everything,” he said. “If I came out and something changed, I would feel alone. If people didn’t accept me, what could I do? I was scared of that.”
Eventually, he realized he couldn’t keep hiding his identity and decided to tell his loved ones. He came out to his family and friends at 18, and the relief was instant.
“I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders,” he said. “I had to tell someone. The next morning, I woke up feeling amazing. And I was lucky—my parents accepted me. Not everyone has that.”
Reis da Silva is currently ranked No. 423 in the world. His goal is to earn enough points to qualify for a Grand Slam event later this year. His victory at the Procopio Cup gave him a chance to compete in the Rio Open qualifiers, the biggest ATP tournament in South America. Although he lost in the first round to eventual quarterfinalist Tseng Chun-hsin, he remains confident in his progress.
Despite recent losses, he is happy with his performance and believes his results will improve. His next challenge includes a series of Challenger tournaments in Argentina, Chile, and Brazil.
“I like to keep competing,” he said. “I feel good right now, and I need this rhythm. The more matches I play, the better I get.”
Reis da Silva identifies endurance as one of his biggest strengths, along with a powerful backhand and an aggressive return of serve.
His boyfriend, Guilherme Sampaio Ricardo, often supports him from the sidelines when his work as an actor and model allows. The couple has been together for two years and travels to tournaments when possible.
Reis da Silva says his Instagram post was not a planned statement but simply a way to express his love. The reaction surprised him, as he received messages from fans worldwide.
“I felt really good,” he said. “People supported me, and it was a great feeling. I barely got any negative reactions—nothing like what I had feared.”
The most meaningful response came from his fellow tennis players. “Nothing changed,” he said. “That was the best part.”
For Reis da Silva, tennis remains his priority. He does not see himself as a spokesperson or activist—he just wants to compete.
“I’ll keep doing the same thing,” he said. “I wake up, train, and try to be the best player I can be. If people are inspired by what I did, that’s great. But my responsibility is to play my best tennis. That’s my focus.”
Related topics:
