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Reuben glo Oscar said:
Retired player Jan Michael Gambill. Highest rank #14. Homophobia and loss of endorsements keep many esp gay male players from coming out during their active career. View attachment 93311151
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I've mentioned this before in this thread, but I don't think an active openly gay player would lose endorsements, especially if they're a top player. They would most likely get even more attention and endorsements. Most major companies today participate and sponsor events during pride month, and no company wants the negative publicity of openly discriminating against a player based on their sexuality. They all want that LGBT+ money and diversity points.

As far as homophobia, I'm sure there will be homophobic players, but there are also players like FAA, Medvedev, Tsitsipas, Federer and Taylor Fritz who have publicly stated that they would welcome and have no issues with an openly gay player. I also doubt that the ATP would tolerate blatant homophobia directed at a gay player, and would take some sort of action against homophobic players. It definitely would have been harder to come out in the past, but I don't believe it would be as bad as people think it would be today.
 
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Walking_Zombie said:
I've mentioned this before in this thread, but I don't think an active openly gay player would lose endorsements, especially if they're a top player. They would most likely get even more attention and endorsements. Most major companies today participate and sponsor events during pride month, and no company wants the negative publicity of openly discriminating against a player based on their sexuality. They all want that LGBT+ money and diversity points.

As far as homophobia, I'm sure there will be homophobic players, but there are also players like FAA, Medvedev, Tsitsipas, Federer and Taylor Fritz who have publicly stated that they would welcome and have no issues with an openly gay player. I also doubt that the ATP would tolerate blatant homophobia directed at a gay player, and would take some sort of action against homophobic players. It definitely would have been harder to come out in the past, but I don't believe it would be as bad as people think it would be today.
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I agree
 
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Walking_Zombie said:
I've mentioned this before in this thread, but I don't think an active openly gay player would lose endorsements, especially if they're a top player. They would most likely get even more attention and endorsements. Most major companies today participate and sponsor events during pride month, and no company wants the negative publicity of openly discriminating against a player based on their sexuality. They all want that LGBT+ money and diversity points.

As far as homophobia, I'm sure there will be homophobic players, but there are also players like FAA, Medvedev, Tsitsipas, Federer and Taylor Fritz who have publicly stated that they would welcome and have no issues with an openly gay player. I also doubt that the ATP would tolerate blatant homophobia directed at a gay player, and would take some sort of action against homophobic players. It definitely would have been harder to come out in the past, but I don't believe it would be as bad as people think it would be today.
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Key word is today. Martina Navratilova lost millions in endorsements in the 80s and early nineties. Closer to now, Michael Sam, who in college football was named defensive player of the year during his last year at Mizzou. He went up for the NFL draft and was chosen LAST. Remember he was the defensive player of the year in all of college football so the man could play, but he came out in college and he’s been on a couple of pro football practice teams. Practice teams don’t play in real games and certainly don’t make the millions that such a highly respected player should have made. He has still never made the money or make an official team when nearly all football analysts agree that had he not come out he’d probably be making millions and playing every Sunday. He played in the Canadian for a minute but he should be in the NFL making tens of millions in salary and endorsements. But he’s not and we know why. He was incredibly brave but paid a very high, homophobic price. Things are improving but it’s just not yet true that in the big 5 professional us league sports that coming out actually makes more money or gets more endorsements. Ask Michael Sam
 
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Reuben glo Oscar said:
Key word is today. Martina Navratilova lost millions in endorsements in the 80s and early nineties. Closer to now, Michael Sam, who in college football was named defensive player of the year during his last year at Mizzou. He went up for the NFL draft and was chosen LAST. Remember he was the defensive player of the year in all of college football so the man could play, but he came out in college and he’s been on a couple of pro football practice teams. Practice teams don’t play in real games and certainly don’t make the millions that such a highly respected player should have made. He has still never made the money or make an official team when nearly all football analysts agree that had he not come out he’d probably be making millions and playing every Sunday. He played in the Canadian for a minute but he should be in the NFL making tens of millions in salary and endorsements. But he’s not and we know why. He was incredibly brave but paid a very high, homophobic price. Things are improving but it’s just not yet true that in the big 5 professional us league sports that coming out actually makes more money or gets more endorsements. Ask Michael Sam
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And tennis is very different than basketball, football, baseball, hockey & soccer.
 
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hotbabyyyy said:
I lowkey think carlos is gay
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I thought I was mad and thought I was the only one. I don’t know why but I really do get gay/bi vibes from Alcaraz. If he is, I do wonder if he actually ever would come out - being at the top of the men’s game at the moment and the main person to beat. Given ATP history, you’d assume he wouldn’t come out, but he does feel like the kind of person that would come out whilst at the top and make a great positive impact. Who knows, but whatever he is he’s so damn hot haha
 
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Would be cool if he was gay, but I think he's just very comfortable in his own skin.

Regarding a player coming out more generally, a top player would have no issues I think, a lower ranked player would I fear face some homophobia in the locker room and the ATP tour's general approach to policing poor behaviour of players doesn't give me much hope they would tackle any such homophobia swiftly or effectively.
 
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Reuben glo Oscar said:
Key word is today. Martina Navratilova lost millions in endorsements in the 80s and early nineties. Closer to now, Michael Sam, who in college football was named defensive player of the year during his last year at Mizzou. He went up for the NFL draft and was chosen LAST. Remember he was the defensive player of the year in all of college football so the man could play, but he came out in college and he’s been on a couple of pro football practice teams. Practice teams don’t play in real games and certainly don’t make the millions that such a highly respected player should have made. He has still never made the money or make an official team when nearly all football analysts agree that had he not come out he’d probably be making millions and playing every Sunday. He played in the Canadian for a minute but he should be in the NFL making tens of millions in salary and endorsements. But he’s not and we know why. He was incredibly brave but paid a very high, homophobic price. Things are improving but it’s just not yet true that in the big 5 professional us league sports that coming out actually makes more money or gets more endorsements. Ask Michael Sam
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A loss of endorsement deals probably has little to do with anything nowadays. It’s more about being worried about traveling in overtly homophobic/anti-queer countries. And while players talk a big game to the press, there’s the fear of being ostracized by a percentage of players. You also have whether you come from a religious or hetero expectations driven family. You also have internalized phobia, toxic masculinity, making sure you’re seen as a “real man”. Then there’s potentially dealing with dimensions or fluidity or contractions or not really being confident in where you are in the gender, sexual, affection, romantic, emotion, commitment spectrum, which can make it difficult to be confident in your sense of self and how you present yourself to others. Then there’s the fear of being “out” eating up your whole image and being what you become most known for.

Just like when it comes to non public figures, there’s a lot of reasons why athletes stay closeted or simply don’t express their queerness publicly.
 
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Marcos was playing in short tee all match so it never covered his butt
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highlights from 1st round
can he put it on all the time with that white tight shorts.
 
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johnjohnston said:
A loss of endorsement deals probably has little to do with anything nowadays. It’s more about being worried about traveling in overtly homophobic/anti-queer countries. And while players talk a big game to the press, there’s the fear of being ostracized by a percentage of players. You also have whether you come from a religious or hetero expectations driven family. You also have internalized phobia, toxic masculinity, making sure you’re seen as a “real man”. Then there’s potentially dealing with dimensions or fluidity or contractions or not really being confident in where you are in the gender, sexual, affection, romantic, emotion, commitment spectrum, which can make it difficult to be confident in your sense of self and how you present yourself to others. Then there’s the fear of being “out” eating up your whole image and being what you become most known for.

Just like when it comes to non public figures, there’s a lot of reasons why athletes stay closeted or simply don’t express their queerness publicly.
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Yeah... i think the "friendly face" that gets put on the tennis tour is all well and good with what... maybe 5-10 men out of the top 100 who have been willing to say they would hypothetically support a gay male player (which is not exactly an impressive number) and yeah... a ton of players are homophobic, doesn't take much to notice the deafening silence from players when Rune (who is young and going to be on tour for a long time to come) and Fognini used the F slur. but the reason there might actually not be a gay player in the top 100... is more likely at the Futures and Challenger level where you're going even more off the beaten path than the ATP Tour would dream of ... I sincerely doubt any of the "support" is the case - so a ton of of gay players are probably not even getting to the ATP level or being driven out in the juniors through bullying, homophobic environments, tournament staff, coaches etc...

Also the tennis fan base (especially online) is toxic af and I doubt it would be a good experience
 
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