After Taylor Fritz’s supportive call years ago, ex–Top 300 player courageously comes out as gay

Years after Taylor Fritz assured his and fellow tour players' support if anyone comes out as homosexual, rising Swiss player Mika Brunold came out as gay in a heartfelt post.

Taylor Fritz, the American No. 1, has been making waves on the ATP tour since his debut season in 2015. He has since reached a Grand Slam semifinal at the 2024 US Open, won 10 ATP Tour singles titles, and won an Olympic bronze medal at the Paris edition. Besides his tennis, Fritz has also gained popularity as one of the best people to be around, especially among his fellow US players, like Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, and others.

Fritz also made headlines in 2022 for his supportive stance, saying that if gay players chose to come out, they would be accepted by him and by other players on tour. He also wondered how no one in the top 100 might have come out, given that statistically, it should have happened.

"I'm not sure if there are homosexual tennis players in the top 100. I don’t know. Maybe people think behind closed doors we know or something. Statistically speaking, there should be. Statistically. But not that I know," he said.

"I think it’s odd, because I feel like a player would be accepted. Myself and my friends, other players on tour wouldn’t have any issues with it, it would be totally normal and I think people would be accepting."

He also reasoned that the most likely explanation is that many people do not want to be in the spotlight, hence their decision.

Cut to 2025, former top 300 player Mika Brunold stepped out of the closet and announced his sexuality in a heartfelt Instagram post. The caption read:

"..I feel it's time for me to open up and share with you that I'm gay. Being gay doesn't just mean loving the same gender - it also means dealing with things most people never have to think about. The fear of not being accepted, the pressure to stay quiet, the feeling of being different. But I've grown. And I'm proud of who I am today. I'm sharing this with you to take a step for myself, but also because I think it's not talked about enough in sports..."

Brunold also expressed gratitude to everyone who supported him, saying he would never have become who he is today without them.

A look into Taylor Fritz's 2025 ATP Finals campaign

Taylor Fritz at the Nitto ATP Finals 2025 - Day 5 - Source: Getty

Taylor Fritz won two ATP titles this year, at the Boss Open and the Eastbourne International. He entered the ATP Finals as the American favorite but failed to make it through to the semifinals. He posted a solid win against Lorenzo Musetti in the first round and faced Carlos Alcaraz in the second, where he succumbed to the Spaniard despite winning the first set. He then lost to Alex de Minaur, missing his chance to advance to the next stage.

Taylor Fritz reached the Wimbledon semifinals, becoming the first American man to do so since John Isner in 2018. He is currently ranked sixth in the World.