Since Billie Jean King’s public outing in 1981, women’s professional tennis has maintained a legacy of prominent LGBTQ+ athletes. Following in the footsteps of pioneers like King and Martina Navratilova, a new generation of openly gay players from across the globe continue to compete at the sport’s highest levels, building careers and visibility on the international stage.
Emina Bektas — United States
American Emina Bektas achieved a significant career milestone in 2023, breaking into the world’s top 100 for the first time and becoming one of the oldest players in WTA history to do so. With a career-high ranking of No. 82, she has competed in both singles and doubles at Wimbledon. Bektas was previously married to fellow tennis player and former doubles partner, Tara Moore.
Daria Kasatkina — Russia
Russian star Daria Kasatkina is one of the most prominent out athletes in tennis, having reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 8 in 2022, the same year she advanced to the semifinals of the French Open. An outspoken critic of Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies, Kasatkina announced her engagement to former Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako in April 2024.
Greet Minnen — Belgium
Belgian player Greet Minnen has established a strong presence on the tour, reaching career-high WTA rankings of No. 59 in singles and No. 45 in doubles. Her career includes appearances at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Minnen, who was once engaged to fellow player Alison van Uytvanck, married her wife, Marie Diels, in July 2023.
Demi Schuurs — Netherlands
Dutch player Demi Schuurs is a formidable doubles specialist who achieved a peak world ranking of No. 7 in 2018. A regular contender at Grand Slam tournaments, she also represented the Netherlands at the 2021 Olympic Games. Schuurs, who came out as a teenager, has been in a relationship with her partner, Carmen Kuijer, since 2020.
Nadia Podoroska — Argentina
Nadia Podoroska of Argentina reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 36 in 2021. That same year, she made national history at the Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first Argentine woman in the 21st century to reach the singles round of 16. In 2022, Podoroska publicly announced her relationship with former Argentine player and doubles partner, Guillermina Naya.
Tara Moore — England
Hong Kong-born British player Tara Moore is a former national No. 1 in doubles, with a career-high WTA ranking of No. 77 in the discipline and No. 145 in singles. She has won nine singles and 17 doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. Moore is currently serving a four-year suspension after a 2022 drug test found a banned substance in her system. An independent tribunal concluded the positive test was due to contaminated meat, and her ban is set to end in December 2027.
Conny Perrin — Switzerland
Swiss professional Conny Perrin has built a successful career on the ITF Women’s Circuit, where she has won 13 singles and 28 doubles titles. In 2018, she reached her career-best WTA singles ranking of No. 134, and in 2024, she achieved a career-high doubles ranking of No. 99. Perrin was previously engaged to fellow player Tara Moore.
