Tennis players react to NBA center Jason Collins announcing he's gay
Martina Navratilova tweeted that Jason Collins will sleep a lot better now after coming out. (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Tennis players took to Twitter in support of NBA center Jason Collins' open letter in Sports Illustrated announcing that he's gay. With that, Collins became the first male professional athlete from a major team sport to come out of the closet during his career.
Not surprisingly, Martina Navratilova, who came out in 1981, led the charge of support and encouragement.
Update:Here's a story about Collins and gays in sports that Navratilova wrote Monday for Sports Illustrated.
https://twitter.com/Martina/status/328907441746108416
https://twitter.com/Martina/status/328907790569586688
https://twitter.com/Martina/status/328914177588592641
https://twitter.com/andyroddick/status/328921772328099840
https://twitter.com/MardyFish/status/328892682262941699
https://twitter.com/rennaestubbs/status/328908621285056512
https://twitter.com/MRusselltennis/status/328960493425401856
https://twitter.com/justingimelstob/status/328951494416146432
Billie Jean King also tweeted via TwitLonger:
I am thrilled @JasonCollins34 was able to come out on his own terms and, as he put it, is ready to continue the conversation. This is a day of celebration for the LGBT community and for all of us. I look forward to the day when the news of anyone coming out, is a non-issue and once we reach that point we will know we have arrived.
Update: Former ATP pro Michael Joyce also weighed in on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/mikejoyce73/status/328967720097968129