Brian Vahaly: In Conversation

In 2022, ATP partnered with You Can Play, a nonprofit organisation committed to furthering LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport. This followed an ATP player survey that highlighted the need for more comprehensive education around topics such as inclusive language and social media use.

This month, we are excited to share an exclusive conversation between Brian Vahaly, the former World No. 64 in the PIF ATP Rankings, and You Can Play, ATP’s LGBTQ+ inclusion partner.

In 2017, Vahaly became the first ATP player to come out as gay. This followed a successful career on the ATP Tour in which he navigated an environment that both overtly and subtly challenged his mental strength and sense of belonging. Today, his fearless work to spearhead LGBTQ+ inclusion in the sport continues in his role as First Vice President of the USTA.

In this open conversation, Vahaly reflects on his unique journey. He advocates for authenticity, emphasises the importance of locker room language and encourages players to use their global platform to promote acceptance.

Looking back, how do you reflect on your journey and relationship with tennis?
I started playing tennis when I was two years old. I love this sport. I love the relationships I have built because of this sport. I love it because tennis challenges you mentally, spiritually, and physically. Tennis altered the course of my life, not just from playing great matches at Masters events and Grand Slams, but my experience with tennis is what ultimately shaped me into the man I’ve become today.

_{^{Brian Vahaly in action on the ATP Tour in 2004. Photo Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images}}

How does tennis compare today from an inclusivity standpoint to your time in the game?
I think the world and society has changed a lot in terms of how people approach inclusivity and topics like same sex marriage. I am encouraged to see more young players feeling confident and comfortable speaking out about issues of inclusivity.

Talk to us about your experience with homophobic language in tennis. Where does that start?
It always starts at the junior level. When I was coming up, you'd hear homophobic language from 12-year-olds. You would hear it from 18-year-olds. It was consistent. It was just the language you used to make fun of people. I don't think it was ever intended to be something that was anti-gay or homophobic. You get used to hearing it as a kid, not always knowing necessarily what it meant. But you knew that it was the way to tease people.

Transitioning to adulthood, how did the Tour shape you as a professional?
You learn some incredible things being on the ATP Tour. You essentially get to manage your career as a small business. You've got coaches, you've got trainers, you've got a therapist. You've got to figure out a way, day in and day out, to show up and perform under intense pressure, where your results are posted for the world to see.

I had no idea that it was teaching me about dealing with pressure, dealing with winning, losing, strategy, preparation, how to pull a team together, how to motivate yourself, how to run a business effectively and efficiently. These skills have proven to be invaluable in the business world.

What was your experience being in the locker rooms? Was there direct homophobia?
I never found the Tour to be overtly homophobic. What I found was that it was very common to use homophobic language. That was just the culture. That was the way that you built camaraderie. If you really wanted to make fun of people, you often used homophobic language to do that. Consciously and subconsciously, that leaves you with a feeling. If you are a gay person, you pretty much know that this is a place that's probably going to be a little uncomfortable for you.

Do you feel like you were held back within tennis because you weren't out?
I think the biggest question I ask myself is: could I have been more successful had I been able to be my authentic self? It’s a question I try not to consider, as I’m incredibly proud of what I was able to accomplish during my career. I have great memories from my time playing the sport’s biggest events. However, I did find it difficult to relax. I was always anxious, wondering what people might know or perceive. I had a deep fear of being exposed, and I tried my best to use that energy to play with somewhat of a chip on my shoulder. I often found it difficult to feel free on the court. Instead, I became what I thought other people expected of me. My discomfort would then look for ways to avoid the spotlight.

What would your advice be to your ATP self?
The advice I would give myself as a former ATP player is: there's going to be a great unique future ahead. I know at times you feel so isolated. Tennis is such a tough individual sport. You're left to yourself in a hotel room in many cases, and it can feel more isolating when you feel like you are being deceptive about your identity. I would tell myself that easier, less anxious days are coming. There is a place to be a successful gay tennis player, despite the fact you have no one to point to today.

The hard part for me in answering the question is the culture has changed so much. I actually think life would have been a lot harder had I come out in the early 2000s. It was a really tough time for the gay community and I’m not sure I would have been strong enough to manage the impact. I had worked 20+ years to finally win matches on the ATP Tour and compete at Grand Slams. I was living my childhood dream. I was unwilling to let anything distract me.

If I were providing advice to a current ATP player, there's a level of comfort and safety you can provide today that was not available for previous generations. Thinking back when I was playing, certainly there was a concern around whether your sexual orientation could have an impact on sponsorships, or maybe your experience on court. I think we're fortunate now to have some great LGBTQ+ role models in sport broadly. There's a lot of great examples that we now have for athletes to see that being their authentic self can help them to perform better, both on the court, and off the court financially.

What is your advice to tennis on inclusion as a concept?
I care deeply about growing this sport because I know what this sport can do for you as a person. We have data now that shows the sport’s impact on longevity and how tennis players live over nine years longer. At the USTA, we are committed to growing this sport which we know improves communities. But if we are going to grow tennis, it’s critical the culture of our sport is inclusive. The world is a dynamic and diverse place. There is no reason to ever exclude people from a sport we all love so much.

As it relates to the Tour and how we make that more inclusive: I think a great place to start is focusing on our language going forward. Our language and our actions have an impact on eight-year-old kids, on 12-year-old kids. It has an impact on our fans, our family, and our friends. Millions of fan look up to these players. If we as leaders, as the best players in the world, can set an example, that really excites me for kids that are growing up in the sport. I'm hopeful we can do that. We have a responsibility in the tennis and sporting community to allow people to feel safe and comfortable being themselves, both on and off the tennis court.

What opportunity does sport have in this space? Can it lead change?
Sport and athletes always have an opportunity to lead. People look up to athletes, regardless of the sport. Athletes are leaders, both inside the locker room and out speaking in communities. Sport has a way of transcending people and cultures, inspiring fans and followers. Small changes can and will make massive impact for generations to come.

This month, the ATP is launching an LGBTQ+ inclusion education series for players, created in collaboration with Brian Vahaly and You Can Play. The series covers a range of topics, from inclusive language, to social media, and advocacy. ATP has also made a donation to support You Can Play in its ongoing efforts across sport.