Swiss tennis star Mika Brunold had big news for fans and fellow players over the weekend: Hes gay.The 21-year-old, 63 player, whos climbing the ranks of the mens singles circuit, came out on Instagram with a heartfelt message. Related Russian tennis champ Daria Kasatkina worries about going home after coming out Today I want to share something personal with you, he began.As a professional tennis player, Ive spent countless hours working on my game, my body, and my mindset. Through all of this, one of the most important things Ive learned is that success on the court isnt just about physical skill its about discovering your personality and staying true to yourself.Ive been thinking a lot about how to talk about this. And while it hasnt always been easy, hiding it and pretending to be someone Im not was never an option, he wrote. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Thats why I feel its time for me to open up, he added, and share with you that Im gay.Game, set, match. View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@mika_brunold) The lanky native of Winterthur, near Zurich, may be best known for the shock of curly blonde hair he wears atop a signature white headband.Brunold is a right-hander with a two-handed backhand and a 3-1 record on clay. Hes currently the Swiss No. 6.Hes also only the second active professional mens tennis player to come out as gay. 24-year-old Brazilian player, Joo Lucas Reis da Silva, came out last year.I believe that in an ideal world, we wouldnt even need to come out at all,Brunold wrote. Im sharing this with you to take a step for myself, but also because I think its not talked about enough in sports.Being gay doesnt just mean loving the same gender, the 20-something shared, imparting wisdom rare for someone just out of his teens.It also means dealing with things most people never have to think about. The fear of not being accepted, the pressure to stay quiet, the feeling of being different.But Ive grown, he added. And Im proud of who I am today.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.