5 incredibly successful tennis players who happen to be homosexual

Martina Navratilova (L) and Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova (L) and Billie Jean King

4. Lisa Raymond

Lisa Raymond
Lisa Raymond

Country: United States of America

Duration: 1990s, 2000s, 2010s

Grand Slams: 11

Olympic medals: 1

Regarded as one of the best doubles and mixed-doubles players in the sport, Lisa Raymond has 11 Grand Slam titles to her name. In a career spanning two decades, she first conquered the top spot in the ATP doubles ranking in June 2000. Raymond repeated the feat on several occasions after that, and she also has the distinction of winning a Olympic medal.

Raymond openly acknowledges her lesbianism, and was in a long-term relationship with her former doubles partner Rennae Stubbs (also in our list, but not top 5).

Raymond has been quoted as saying: "I came out because I knew that there would be life after tennis, and being gay and playing tennis is not a big deal. There have been a lot of women in sports that have come out, and it’s not seen as anything ‘wow’."

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