Swiss tennis star Mika Brunold had big news for fans and fellow players over the weekend: He’s gay.
The 21-year-old, 6’3″ player, who’s climbing the ranks of the men’s singles circuit, came out on Instagram with a heartfelt message.
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“Today I want to share something personal with you,” he began.
“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,” he wrote.
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“That’s why I feel it’s time for me to open up,” he added, “and share with you that I’m gay.”
Game, set, match.
The lanky native of Winterthur, near Zurich, may be best known for the shock of curly blonde hair he wears atop a signature white headband.
Brunold is a right-hander with a two-handed backhand and a 3-1 record on clay. He’s currently the Swiss No. 6.
He’s also only the second active professional men’s tennis player to come out as gay. 24-year-old Brazilian player, João Lucas Reis da Silva, came out last year.
“I believe that in an ideal world, we wouldn’t even need to ‘come out’ at all,” Brunold wrote. “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.”
“Being gay doesn’t just mean loving the same gender,” the 20-something shared, imparting wisdom rare for someone just out of his teens.
“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,” he added. “And I’m proud of who I am today.”
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