British Paralympian and wheelchair tennis player Greg Slade has come out publicly as gay, just days before taking to the court at the 2026 Australian Open Wheelchair Championships in Melbourne.
Slade, who won a silver medal in quad doubles at the 2024 Paralympic Games, made the announcement via Instagram, sharing a heartfelt message about visibility, inclusion, and the importance of being open in sport.
“To those closest to me, my sexuality has long been no secret,” he wrote.
“However, when it comes to the wider tennis community, I’ve so far kept that part of my life private. Now feels like the right time to change that.”
Representation in Tennis
Slade joins a small but growing group of male professional tennis players who are openly gay, including Brazil’s João Lucas Reis da Silva, Swiss player Mika Brunold, and retired ATP player Brian Vahaly.
“As one of only a handful of gay men playing at the highest levels of tennis, I want to use the privilege and uniqueness of my position to help bring about positive change,” Slade wrote.
His decision to come out also coincides with a commitment to work more closely with Pride in Tennis, an advocacy group focused on making tennis more inclusive at all levels.
Partnership with Pride in Tennis
Slade praised the work of Pride in Tennis in his statement, calling it “instrumental” in fostering LGBTQ+ visibility within the sport.
“Pride in Tennis helps to promote and foster an inclusive environment and culture for the LGBTQ+ community across all levels and formats of tennis,” he said.
“There’s still lots to be done, but I look forward to collaborating with Pride in Tennis to help further amplify their important work.”
He ended his post by thanking those who have supported him on this personal and professional journey.
Looking Ahead
Slade is currently in Melbourne preparing for the Australian Open Wheelchair Championships, where he’ll be competing in the quad division. His coming out has already been met with messages of support and encouragement from fans, fellow athletes, and LGBTQ+ advocates across social media.
With his announcement, Slade not only breaks new ground for visibility in wheelchair tennis but also adds his voice to the growing chorus of athletes using their platforms to push for a more inclusive sporting world.
