In an ATP Challenger tournament in Tulln, Lower Austria, Swiss rising star Mika Brunold, 21, celebrated his first title at this level on Sunday. In the final, the player who had advanced from the qualifying rounds defeated Brazilian João Lucas Reis da Silva, 26, in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. The singles champion earns €20,630 in prize money and 100 ATP ranking points. The ATP Challenger Tour is the official second tier of men’s professional tennis.
Beyond the sporting triumph, the match made tennis history: it was the first known ATP Tour final where two openly gay male professionals faced off.
Brunold had publicly come out as gay at the end of December 2025 on social media (as reported by TheColu.mn). At the time, the 21-year-old also wrote that discussions of homosexuality in tennis were insufficiently addressed. “Being gay isn’t just about loving someone of the same sex. You also have to deal with things others don’t know: the worry that you won’t be accepted; the pressure to stay silent; the feeling that you’re different,” Brunold wrote.
João Lucas Reis da Silva had already been out for a year: in December 2024 he posted on Instagram a photo with his partner Gui Sampaio Ricardo, an actor and model. Reis da Silva wrote alongside the image, “Happy birthday. Have a good life. I love you very much,” a moment he later described in interviews with outlets such as The Athletic and the tennis magazine CLAY. In those conversations he spoke openly about the reactions and the spontaneity of the moment. In an interview with The Athletic, he said: “I thought to myself: Wow, my boyfriend has a birthday. Happy birthday, I love you. And suddenly: boom! For me it was so normal that I didn’t think about it at all.”
Brunold thanked his opponent for coming out
Brunold explained after his victory that Reis da Silva’s coming out had inspired him: “You are a big inspiration to me. I’m very proud of us. We can be there for so many people who are struggling with their sexuality. Thank you and good luck for your future.”
WHAT A MOMENT
During the Tulln Challenger trophy ceremony, Mika Brunold thanks Joao Lucas Reis da Silva for inspiring him to come out and says they can help people struggling with their sexuality.
Never thought Id see the day! pic.twitter.com/NOKsT2Q6bkThe Gay Tennis Pod (@thegaytennispod) September 13, 2026
In the current ATP world rankings, Brunold sits at No. 260. Reis da Silva holds the No. 216 spot. The rankings are led by Italian Jannik Sinner, followed by US Open champion Alexander Zverev of Germany and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain.
Brunold and Reis da Silva are currently the only openly gay male tennis professionals active on the circuit. Others, such as American Bobby Blair, came out years after retiring from professional play. In women’s tennis, queerness is handled far more openly: former Russian player Darya Kasatkina publicly acknowledged her sexuality around 2022 and now competes for Australia, after leaving her homeland where LGBTQ+ terms are often not accepted.
