Two openly queer players are featured in the women’s singles draw at this year’s US Open, as the tournament enters its second round. Daria Kasatkina, now competing for Australia, and Greet Minnen of Belgium both qualified for the main draw, highlighting a growing presence for LGBTQ+ athletes at the event.
Kasatkina advanced to the second round by defeating Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the opening round and is set to face Kamilla Rakhimova later today. A Russian-born former top-20 talent, Kasatkina switched her national representation to Australia in March. She has been outspoken about broader social issues, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and anti-LGBTQ policies, telling CNN that her decision to change nationality stemmed from a need to live as her authentic self. Kasatkina is currently ranked 18 and is engaged to professional figure skater Natalia Zabiiako, with the pair often sharing glimpses of life on the WTA tour.
Minnen, who has been publicly open about her sexual orientation since 2018, was defeated in the first round by Naomi Osaka. Osaka has drawn attention for her high-fashion and stage presence at the Open, including a glittery red Labubu nickname moment. Minnen, ranked 72, was previously connected in a relationship with fellow player Alison Van Uytvanck; she is now married to her partner Marie Diels, having wed not long before the US Open.
The Open has a long history of LGBTQ+ trailblazers, from Billie Jean King to today’s players. King’s push for equal pay looms large in the sport’s collective memory, and last year marked the ATP tour’s first openly gay player, Joao Lucas Reis da Silva of Brazil, who came up short in the qualifiers at the Open.
The tournament also brings into focus ongoing debates around transgender participation in tennis. Martina Navratilova remains a visible figure on the Open stage, serving as a commentator for Sky Sports this year, but her public stance on transgender issues has drawn scrutiny. Navratilova has been associated with transphobic views in recent years, prompting discussion about how such positions fit with a sport-long push for inclusion and equality. Wimbledon recently featured her in a VIP box during the women’s finals, underscoring the complicated conversation around legacy, influence, and progress in tennis.
Looking ahead, the writer of this piece hopes even more progress—both in terms of LGBTQ+ representation and broader inclusion across genders—in professional tennis. The U.S. Open’s current slate suggests the sport is moving in that direction, even as it continues to wrestle with the complex debates surrounding gender identity and sports.
Context and outlook:
– The presence of Kasatkina and Minnen as openly queer competitors marks a meaningful moment for visibility in major championships.
– The sport’s history with LGBTQ+ pioneers remains a touchstone as newer generations push for broader inclusion, while conversations about transgender participation and representation continue to evolve within tennis and its media coverage.
– Fans can anticipate continued coverage of both on-court results and the broader discourse surrounding LGBTQ+ issues in tennis as the tournament progresses.
Summary:
Two openly queer players are in contention at the US Open’s second round, alongside a broader debate about LGBTQ+ inclusion and transgender participation in tennis, highlighted by ongoing commentary and legacy figures. The event remains a focal point for both elite competition and the sport’s evolving conversation about identity and equality.