[Tripp]

Come to think about it, I do see a pretty big market for the first guy to come out of the closet. Not only would gay tennis fans root for him (and there are more than plenty, just look at this forum), but let's say someone ranked #80 comes out. He'd get endorsements and contracts he couldn't possibly dream of signing if he were just another pro tennis player. He could be made a spokesperson for gay sportsmen all over the world and yeah, it would be a havey burden to carry on your shoulders, but I'd also mean loads of money. And let's face it, most pro tennis players care a lot about it. More money means better training conditions, better coaches, and therefore better chances of making it to the top.

[Wimbledon9]

Martina was never a closet case you can ask Chris Evert, but she had to keep her mouth shut because homosexuality was a reason not to give her an american passport yes very enlightened country.
In 1978 the year she won her first title at Wimbledon a tabloid journalist tried to bribe a chambermaid to let him in her room when Martina was not there to see if she was there alone.

When she finally got her passport six years after her defection she talked to that American journalist about her sexuality but then she had the problem of girlfriend Nancy Lieberman who did not want to come out which was an obstacle.

Billy Jean King was forced out through the trial with that girlfriend Marilyn Barnett but still denied she was a lesbian was very easy because she was married to Larry King. She stayed in the closet till she was 51.

Martina opened the door for the tennisplayers in Czechoslowakia so they got it easier to play everywhere but she had to go through that door first at great cost leaving her family behind.
She also was the one top athlete to come out at great financial cost but she always said being totally free and honest made her a better player.

[MB.]

Originally Posted by Tripp

Come to think about it, I do see a pretty big market for the first guy to come out of the closet. Not only would gay tennis fans root for him (and there are more than plenty, just look at this forum), but let's say someone ranked #80 comes out. He'd get endorsements and contracts he couldn't possibly dream of signing if he were just another pro tennis player. He could be made a spokesperson for gay sportsmen all over the world and yeah, it would be a havey burden to carry on your shoulders, but I'd also mean loads of money. And let's face it, most pro tennis players care a lot about it. More money means better training conditions, better coaches, and therefore better chances of making it to the top.

I agree with this, mostly. Send it to Grigor Dimitrov's team.

[darrinbaker00]

Originally Posted by Tripp

Come to think about it, I do see a pretty big market for the first guy to come out of the closet. Not only would gay tennis fans root for him (and there are more than plenty, just look at this forum), but let's say someone ranked #80 comes out. He'd get endorsements and contracts he couldn't possibly dream of signing if he were just another pro tennis player. He could be made a spokesperson for gay sportsmen all over the world and yeah, it would be a havey burden to carry on your shoulders, but I'd also mean loads of money. And let's face it, most pro tennis players care a lot about it. More money means better training conditions, better coaches, and therefore better chances of making it to the top.

Where would these endorsements come from, pray tell?

[moby]

Originally Posted by darrinbaker00

Where would these endorsements come from, pray tell?

He couldn't do worse being the 80th ranked player anyway.

[Xian]

why do "tennis fans" just accept that it's not their business whether someone is gay or not? The whole gossip about players being gay is just wishful thinking and more or less disgusting

[BodyElectric.]

Originally Posted by espana

Stosur

I thought so too, how about Errani? Her and Vinci are VERY close.

[Beat]

Originally Posted by Morrissey

Why is it taboo on this board to discuss sexuality?

it's not taboo, it's just fucking annoying and disrespectful when posters make assumptions about players without knowing anything.

Originally Posted by Sammo

Gambill is gay and everyone knows that

a) he's retired. b) i don't think he every stated this openly, has he?

to answer the initial queston: all sports - yes, even tennis - are saturated by a laddish attitude, which makes it much harder for men than for women to come out.

[vixter]

There are probably a few gay tennis players around that doesn't make a secret of their sexuality. But if you are not a huge media profile ranked in the top 10, what sense does it make to have a big official "coming out", nobody would care

That being said I also don't think there are that many. Maybe a couple bi

[Pops Maellard]

Originally Posted by vixter

There are probably a few gay tennis players around that doesn't make a secret of their sexuality. But if you are not a huge media profile ranked in the top 10, what sense does it make to have a big official "coming out", nobody would care

That being said I also don't think there are that many. Maybe a couple bi

There's bound to be some. In say the top 100 there could be around 5 or so .

I can see why they wouldn't come out though. I bet there are a lot of potentially difficult ATP players - I mean we already know of some. And even if it would be nice if they did, why should they? They're probably like Maria and keep tennis and private life separate .

[Volcana]

This is simply about money. You average player, a non-star, still has shoe deals and racket deals and deals to give off season clinics. And homophobia can adversely affect their ability to get those things. So when you start rumors so-and-s0 is gay, you don't know how their parents, their church, their others employers or their relatives may feel about that. They player who want to make announcements about it, have done so. The players who just live their lives out of the closet, have no doubt been asked about it, have answered, and it's part of the public record.

An apt comparison is what was called 'passing', back in the day. Very light-skinned Blacks in the USA who live their lives as whites, thus avoiding all the white racism and outright terrorism that came with being Black in the USA. other Black folks didn't start rumors that that person was really Black. They were making a sacrifice to avoid suffering, and potentially death. We understood that. It's the same deal for gays.

[chuvack]

Jan-Michael Gambill had a pretty good following in his day, and he never denied the rumors...

And another one Jim Courier, great looking guy, got 50 million dollars in the bank, 45 years old and never married, never seen in public with girlfriend, no kids...

[Volcana]

Originally Posted by chuvack

Jan-Michael Gambill had a pretty good following in his day, and he never denied the rumors...

Why should he respond to rumors at all?

Originally Posted by chuvack

And another one Jim Courier, great looking guy, got 50 million dollars in the bank, 45 years old and never married, never seen in public with girlfriend, no kids...

Rarely seen in public period, when he's not working. Also, how do you know he has no kids?

More to the point though, if he's gay and doesn't want to be public about it, that's his right. Where's the harm?

[dybbuk]

Originally Posted by Xian

why do "tennis fans" just accept that it's not their business whether someone is gay or not? The whole gossip about players being gay is just wishful thinking and more or less disgusting

I am 100% behind the idea that no player should be outed against their will, and no player should be forced to come out of the closet. But this "Why do you care?!" thing is such BS. People care because society is heteronormative and the fact is, yes, it would be amazing and beneficial in numerous ways for a top player to be gay. Instead of bitching about people "caring" people should bitch about the fact society has created this system that encourages straight people to have their love life out in the public eye, but discourages the same thing for gay people.

[V-MAC]

I'm sure there are lots of "open secrets" on the ATP tour about the sexuality of certain players, and other sports too for that matter
But yes it is sad they can't be completely open about it.