The second- and third-ranked ATP tennis players in the world, Roger Federer and Andy Murray, were asked at the Italian Open if open gay tennis pros would be accepted on the tour. Resounding the sentiments of hundreds of professional athletes, the Associated Press reports it would be no problem.
"I don't think it would be a problem," Federer said. "We're very relaxed. We don't play a team sport and see each other all the time. … We're very open. So whatever happens, happens. I don't know if there are any. So far from what I've heard, no. But that could change, possibly because of the case in the NBA."
"I think everyone has gotten better at dealing with it," Murray said. "More and more players have come out and I think there has to be some players that are probably gay. From speaking to the other players, I don't think anyone has any issues with it. So I hope that in tennis it's an issue that is dealt with well when the situation arises."
They follow statements by Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish, who both said they're good on this issue.
The fight for gay equality in professional sports is certainly past the tipping point, and it is nearly complete.
