‘Pressure to stay quiet’ – Rising tennis player comes out as gay in emotional statement

Rising Swiss tennis talent Mika Brunold has come out as gay in an emotional social media post.

The world No.312 and Swiss No.6 broke the news to his Instagram followers and received support from fellow professionals and organisations.

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In a statement, the 21-year-old wrote: “Heyy. Today I want to share something personal with you.

“As a professional tennis player, I’ve spent countless hours working on my game, my body, and my mindset.

“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.

“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.

“I’m deeply grateful for everyone who supported me. Without you, I would never be the person I am today.”

Brunold has been projected to rise up the rankings, having reached a career-best No. 289 in August despite his young age.

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Playing primarily on the ATP Challenger Tour, he reached two semi-finals and three-quarter finals in 2025, upping his prize money and status as one to watch.

A number of fellow pros left messages of support, including fellow Swiss players Viktorija Golubic and Leandro Riedi.

German No.1 Eva Lys also left a comment, as did four-time Grand Slam winner and former No. 1 Kim Clijsters.

The announcement shows the progress being made in tennis, as Brunold is the second male player to come out as gay in the past 12 months.

In December 2024, Brazilian talent Joao Lucas Reis da Silva became the first openly gay professional male tennis player.

He posted a happy birthday message for his boyfriend and later commented: “I didn’t think about it… I just wanted to post a picture with him.

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“I was like, ‘Oh my god, it’s my boyfriend’s birthday. Like happy birthday. I love you.’ And then, boom!

“It was so normal for me that I didn’t think about it. I’m really happy that people respect me, that people look at me, admire me maybe.”