We take a look at the players who are bringing some queer magic to the court
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Having kicked off on 14 January, the 2024 Australian Open is in full swing. Thousands are enjoying the sunny skies of Melbourne for this prestigious tournament. But it’s not just the sun which is shining brightly on the court. There are also a number of LGBTQIA players bringing some rainbow magic to the game.
Tennis has seen a new dawn of openly out LGBTQIA players take to the court, following in the footsteps of trailblazers like Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova.
Here’s our guide to some of the stars competing in this year’s tournament.
Daria Kasatkina
Seeded 14th at this year’s tournament, Daria Kasatkina is a force to be reckoned with. She came out in 2022 by confirming her relationship with Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako.
In 2023, she spoke out openly against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to The Times. “It’s unsafe for me now, with the regime we have. As a gay person who opposes the war, it’s not possible to go back. But I don’t regret it even 1 per cent.”
Greet Minnen
Playing unseeded in the Australian Open, Belgian superstar Greet Minnen gave LGBTQIA tennis fans a moment to remember when she kissed her (now ex) girlfriend Alison Van Uytvanck at the net in 2019. The pair became the first openly gay couple in history to play doubles together.
Nadia Podoroska
After coming out in 2022, Nadia Podoroska has been posting loved-up pictures on Instagram with her girlfriend and fellow Argentinian tennis player Guillermina Naya. The Argentinian player was even congratulated on her coming out by none other than Billie Jean King.
Demi Schuurs
Seeded 9th in the women’s doubles with her Brazilian partner Luisa Stefani, Demi Schuurs is one of tennis’ most prominent LGBTQIA advocates and players. After coming out as a teenager, Demi has always spoken out about LGBTQIA inclusion in tennis.
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