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Translated by Fefo Campos
João Lucas Reis, ranked No. 415 in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), makes his debut this Saturday (15) in the Rio Open qualifiers against Chun-Hsin Tseng from Chinese Taipei. The 24-year-old tennis player gained attention at the end of 2023 after posting a photo with his boyfriend, Gui Sampaio, on his birthday, becoming the first openly gay active player in the ATP.
The post’s impact was immediate, with messages of support and recognition. Despite receiving some negative comments, João emphasized the positive impact of the situation. “I confess that, at first, when everything blew up, I focused a bit on the negative reactions. But the overall response was positive. I received many messages from people saying they identified with me and wanted to see me at the top of tennis. I found that very motivating ”, he stated in an interview with O Globo, published this Saturday.
João Lucas Reis Highlights Family Support
The tennis player states that his sexuality was already known to family, friends, and even within the sports community before the post. The decision to make his relationship public happened naturally, as part of a process of self-discovery and confidence. “I was already living this way, openly, within my tennis circle, with my coaches and friends. At 17 or 18, I never imagined that I would reach this moment, where I could speak openly to everyone. I’m happy with this maturity ”, he shared.
Despite initial concerns about his family’s reaction, João found complete support. His father, Antônio Raimundo, said the news was not a surprise and that their relationship had always been natural. ” He woke up as gay, and the whole family woke up with him. That’s it. We carried on very naturally. For us, the huge reaction was a surprise. The initial buzz has passed. Over time, it will just become something normal, as it should be ”, he affirmed.
Positive Change in the Sports World
In the tennis world, the landscape has also changed. Before coming out publicly, João heard prejudiced comments in locker rooms and among colleagues, but this has been decreasing. “It has become much easier. I can be myself. With my coaches, I used to have to talk about really deep things, and I couldn’t. There were still a few things I was afraid to open up about. And this helped me a lot in my tennis at that moment ”, he said.
According to him, what he felt started to be validated.”I was able to speak openly about my feelings, everything that was on my mind, and even things that affected my performance on the court. Obviously, it makes a difference ”, he added during the conversation.
João also has the support of his boyfriend, who accompanies him to some tournaments. An actor and theater student, Gui knew little about tennis but has since become more engaged with the sport.”He accompanies me to several tournaments, mostly in Brazil. We’ve been to Argentina, spent a week in Finland […] When I’m not competing, we spend all our time together. He was warmly welcomed by my friends, fellow tennis players, and my coaches ”, he shared.
“Today, he understands the rules and what’s happening. But he’s a very intelligent guy and knows a lot about emotional intelligence and everything else. He tries to open my eyes so I can reach my best performance. I admit I’m a bit resistant sometimes, but I know he just wants to help me. And he does help me ”, João concluded.
Now, the tennis player’s focus is on the Rio Open, where he aims to secure a spot in the main draw. João also highlights the positive moment for Brazilian tennis, with players like João Fonseca and Thiago Wild standing out.”It brings great visibility. This attracts more people to the sport. The more players there are, the more people pursue these goals, and the more talent emerges. It’s amazing to see Thiago Wild reaching the quarterfinals in Buenos Aires, João Fonseca… What he’s doing is incredible, it’s very inspiring ”, concluded the tennis player.
João Lucas Reis se torna 1º tenista da ATP em atividade a se declarar gay
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