Professional tennis player Joao Lucas Reis da Silva has made headlines by revealing his love for a Brazilian actor, shattering a long-standing taboo in the men's side of the sport. At just 24 years old and playing on the ATP Challenger Tour circuit, Reis da Silva's Instagram post on Sunday has sparked significant interest.

Love in the Locker Room: A New Chapter

In the series of five photos he posted, Reis da Silva is pictured with actor and model Gui Sampaio Ricardo. His heartfelt caption, "Happy birthday, happy life, I love you very much," showcases the depth of his emotions.Reis da Silva, born in Recife, is currently ranked just outside the world's top 400 but has reached great heights in the past. He has reached at least one singles tournament final in each of the last three years on tour but has yet to claim a victory. However, he did win a doubles title in March 2023 by partnering with countryman Pedro Boscardin Dias in Santiago, Chile.Many fellow tennis players have shown their support. The current Brazilian No. 1, Thiago Monteiro, wrote "Wonderful" along with love heart emojis. Gustavo Heide, Mateus Alves, Gilbert Klier, Eduardo Ribeiro, and Ana Candiotto also reacted positively. Even gymnast Diego Hypolito, a former world champion and Olympic silver medalist, liked the post.Reis da Silva's boyfriend has been involved in a theatrical production of "Bent," highlighting the persecution of gay men in 1930s Germany. While neither man has shared more details about their relationship, it has opened up important conversations.In the history of professional tennis, there have been very few out gay or bi men. Brian Vahaly, appointed as the next USTA Chairman of the Board and President, is the only one to have come out publicly as gay and was previously in the ATP's Top 100.

Tennis Superstars and Their Scandals

Bill Tilden was a tennis superstar in the 1920s, winning multiple Grand Slams as an amateur. But his arrests and jail terms in 1946 and 1949 for sexual misconduct with minors led to his social shunning. He died in 1953 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame six years later.Gottfried von Cramm, a two-time French Open champion, was gay or bi and was jailed for a year in Germany in 1938 due to a previous gay relationship with an actor.In 2022, the ATP released survey findings showing that 75% of respondents had heard homophobic slurs used by other players. However, encouragingly, 95% of players under the age of 31 said they supported the ATP taking action against homophobia.Reis da Silva is one of eight Brazilian men competing this week in the Procopio Cup in Sao Paulo, a pre-qualifying tournament for the Rio Open in February 2025.Subscribe to the Outsports newsletter to stay updated on your favorite out athletes and inspiring LGBTQ sports stories.