Top-ranked men's tennis professionals
Roger Federer and Andy Murray say they would welcome an openly gay
player.
“I don't think it would be a
problem,” Federer told
the AP on Sunday at the Italian Open. “We're very relaxed. We
don't play a team sport and see each other all the time. … We're
very open. So whatever happens, happens. I don't know if there are
any [gay male tennis players]. So far from what I've heard, no.”
“But that could change, possibly
because of the case in the NBA,” he added, referring to the recent
coming out of NBA free agent Jason Collins.
Female tennis stars Martina
Navratilova, Billie Jean King and Amelie Mauresmo have already paved
the way for a male athlete.
“I think everyone has gotten better
at dealing with it,” Murray said. “More and more players have
come out and I think there has to be some players that are probably
gay. From speaking to the other players, I don't think anyone has
any issues with it. So I hope that in tennis it's an issue that is
dealt with well when the situation arises.”