Swiss tennis prospect Mika Brunold has publicly come out as gay, sharing his personal journey in a heartfelt social media post. The 21-year-old revealed he previously felt significant pressure to remain silent about his sexuality while building his career on the professional tour.
A Courageous Announcement on Social Media
On November 30, Brunold, currently ranked 310th in the world, posted a lengthy statement on Instagram. He opened up about the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ athletes, moving beyond simple definitions of sexuality. "Being gay doesn't (just) mean loving the same gender – it also means dealing with things most people never have to think about," he wrote.
In his post, Brunold described "the fear of not being accepted, the pressure to stay quiet, the feeling of being different." He stated that he has now grown and is proud of who he is. The athlete explained his decision to share his truth was both a personal step and an attempt to spark more conversation in the sporting world, where he believes such topics are not discussed enough.
Support from the Sporting World
The announcement was swiftly met with an outpouring of support from fellow athletes and the tennis community. Australian NBL basketball star Isaac Humphries, who is also openly gay, welcomed Brunold with a comment saying "welcome to the squad".
Four-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one Kim Clijsters responded with a love-heart emoji. German WTA star Eva Lys, ranked 40th, posted three clapping emojis, while The Gay Tennis Pod praised his courage.
Brunold follows in the footsteps of Brazilian player Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva, who became the first openly gay active male ATP player last year. In women's tennis, Daria Kasatkina is the most high-profile openly gay active player; she recently switched her national allegiance from Russia to Australia.
Brunold's Career and Future
On the court, Mika Brunold has shown promising form. He has won three singles titles on the ITF Tour and reached the semi-finals of two ATP Tour Challenger events in 2025. His career-high ranking is 289th, which he achieved in August of this year.
In his concluding remarks, Brunold expressed a hope for a future where "coming out" is not necessary. "I believe that in an ideal world, we wouldn't even need to 'come out' at all," he stated, while also thanking his supporters for helping him become the person he is today.
