British wheelchair tennis star Greg Slade has expressed his hope that his recent decision to publicly come out will inspire other gay men within the sport to embrace their true selves. The 23-year-old athlete revealed his sexuality in an Instagram post earlier this month, ahead of the Australian Open, and has been overwhelmed by the positive response.
A Courageous Step Forward
Slade admitted that he approached the announcement with some trepidation, questioning whether it was the right move for his career and personal life. "Because there are so few of us in professional tennis, there were definitely times where I doubted whether I should be doing this," he told the Press Association. "I doubted whether it was right for me, of course, because, across any sort of issue within society or any minority, it's always really difficult to be one of the first because actually you're going where so few people have been before."
The Paralympic silver medallist was concerned about potential negative reactions and whether the announcement might disrupt his preparations for the tournament. However, he has been heartened by the outpouring of support, with only a handful of negative comments compared to thousands of positive messages.
Influenced by Fellow Athletes
Slade's decision was partly inspired by other tennis players who have recently come out, including Brazilian Joao Lucas Reis da Silva and Swiss player Mika Brunold. Seeing the positive reception to Brunold's Instagram post in November encouraged Slade to take the leap himself. "Seeing how positive the reaction was for him, it was really nice for me," Slade explained. "I recognised that I was in a privileged but also a very unique position as somebody who was playing grand slams, who could then speak out and was comfortable in doing so."
This realisation led to what Slade describes as an epiphany, motivating him to share his truth publicly and use his platform to support others.
Working Towards Greater Visibility
Slade has committed to collaborating with Pride in Tennis, a British network dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and fans. Through this partnership, he aims to help increase awareness and visibility within the sport. "Hopefully, as time goes on, issues like this will snowball until it becomes a non-issue," he said.
The athlete emphasised that his goal is to inspire even one person, regardless of their level in tennis. He has already received messages from club players who feel inspired by his story to be more open with their teammates.
A Message of Understanding and Hope
To other professional players who may be uncertain about coming out, Slade offers a message of empathy and encouragement. "To those people, I would say, in your own time, if at all," he advised. "You do what you want. I'd say the grass really is greener on the other side and I look forward to the day. I hope it will come soon."
He expressed optimism that more athletes will feel comfortable being open about their sexuality, fostering an environment of love, support, and friendship. Slade hopes that, in the future, he can look back on his career with pride, knowing he played a part in making tennis more inclusive.
Out male sports stars remain rare, with tennis being no exception. Reis da Silva, who participated in Australian Open qualifying, is among the few openly gay male players. Slade's announcement marks another significant step toward greater representation and acceptance in professional sports.
