Australian Open welcomes its first openly gay male player

Brazilian Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva became the first openly gay man to compete at the Australian Open, losing in the first round of men's qualifying; he has said he wants to focus on his tennis.

Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva became the first openly gay man to compete at the Australian Open when he played in men's qualifying at Melbourne Park. He lost to Portugal's Henrique Rocha in the first round of qualifying. Reis Da Silva confirmed his sexuality in December 2024 and has said he prefers to concentrate on improving his game rather than be labelled a trailblazer. The topic drew attention because men's professional tennis has historically had no openly gay players. Key facts: - Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva is listed as world No.206 and took part in men's qualifying at the 2026 Australian Open. - He lost to Portugal's Henrique Rocha in the first round of qualifying. - Reis Da Silva confirmed he was gay in December 2024 and had shared a social media photo with his boyfriend, receiving supportive messages. - Swiss player Mika Brunold publicly revealed his sexuality last November, and Daria Kasatkina is noted in the article as a high-profile openly gay player in women's tennis. Summary: Reis Da Silva's appearance was reported as a first for the tournament and prompted discussion about openness among men on the professional tour. He exited in the first round of qualifying, and broader developments in men's tennis visibility were noted by players and commentators. Undetermined at this time.