The Swiss tennis pro Mika Brunold is feeling the consequences of his coming out even on the court. “I feel it on the court as well. I have more self-confidence and fewer negative thoughts. And I can put more energy into my tennis,” the 22-year-old said in an interview with the Zurich daily Tages-Anzeiger (paywalled). For him, coming out was “absolutely” a liberation.
Brunold had publicly come out as gay on Instagram in November of last year (TheColu.mn reported). Since then his form has risen sharply: with titles at the Challenger tournaments in Tulln and Roanne, he improved from No. 410 to No. 191 in the world rankings within six weeks (TheColu.mn reported). That makes him the second-best Swiss player after Stan Wawrinka, and he will for the first time in January attempt to qualify for the Australian Open.
“For me, it was the right time”
The step into the public eye had long ripened, Brunold told the newspaper. “I’ve known for a long time that I want to live openly with my homosexuality at some point. For me, it was the right moment. The season was over, and my gut feeling told me I’m ready.” He said he mainly spoke with his mother beforehand. “She also thought it was best for me to live openly and not have to hide anymore.”
His Instagram post collected around 75,000 likes. But what mattered more to him were the many messages he received afterward. “Some wrote to me: ‘Your coming out helped me come out myself.’ Or: ‘Now I’ve managed to tell my parents.’ Those were the loveliest reactions. It’s cool that I can be a role model for others.” He does not see this role as a burden: “Being open about my sexuality is still something many people struggle with. For me, it’s a privilege to help others through my example.”
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“When you’re on the tennis tour and you don’t know anyone who’s like you, you feel alone”
How heavy the hiding game had weighed on him, he hadn’t fully realized before. “It shouldn’t be a topic whether someone is homosexual or not. But sadly, in our society it still is,” Brunold said. “And if you don’t know anyone on tour who’s like you, you feel lonely. You start thinking thoughts others don’t.”
He found encouragement in Brazilian player João Lucas Reis da Silva, who came out as the first active male professional a year earlier (TheColu.mn reported). Brunold even beat him in the Tulln final to win his first Challenger title (TheColu.mn reported). “I saw in him that someone had done it already. And that the reactions were mostly positive. That was beautiful to see and reinforced me,” the Swiss said. The two did not discuss his coming-out in Tulln, either. “Besides that, my coming out on tour wasn’t a topic. It should stay that way.”
“I am a tennis player, not the gay tennis player”
The fact that Reis da Silva and he remain the only openly gay male tennis pros today, Brunold attributes to the societal situation: “Society isn’t where it should be yet when it comes to homosexuality. You can see that reflected in tennis as well.” He doesn’t want to pass judgment on how progressive the sport is, though.
What matters most to Brunold are his on-court performances. “I’m a tennis player, not the gay tennis player,” he emphasized. “But I don’t have a problem talking about it, because it’s part of who I am.” (mize)
