Tennis Pro João Lucas Reis da Silva Comes Out, Makes History In Birthday Message To Boyfriend
Love took center stage recently when Brazilian tennis professional João Lucas Reis da Silva shared intimate photos with actor Gui Sampaio Ricardo on Instagram. The 24-year-old ATP player, currently ranked 370th, posted five photos with a heartfelt birthday message: “Happy birthday, happy life, I love you very much.”
Born in Recife, Reis da Silva has made his mark in professional tennis. His career-high ranking to date is 259. While a singles title remains on his wishlist, he claimed a doubles victory in Santiago, Chile (March 2023) with fellow Brazilian Pedro Boscardin Dias.
Support from Tennis Community
The tennis world responded positively. Brazilian No. 1 Thiago Monteiro sent love heart emojis and the word “wonderful.” Other players like Gustavo Heide, Mateus Alves, Gilbert Klier, Eduardo Ribeiro, and Ana Candiotto added their support. Olympic silver medalist Diego Hypolito also showed his backing.
Sampaio Ricardo, an actor, has starred in the play Bent, which tells the story of 1930s Germany. Reis da Silva’s comments on his partner’s performance posts show their strong connection.
Historical Context
The tennis world has seen few openly non-heterosexual male players. Brian Vahaly, soon-to-be USTA Chairman, was the only previous ATP Top 100 player to come out. Historical figures include Bill Tilden, a 1920s champion with 10 Grand Slams, and Gottfried von Cramm, a two-time French Open winner.
Reis da Silva continues his career at the Procopio Cup in São Paulo, preparing for the Rio Open in February 2025. His story adds a new chapter to tennis history.
