Professional tennis player Alison Van Uytvanck told The Guardian that more of her fellow athletes should come out of the closet, according to CNN.com .
"We [would like to] see more people coming forward and saying 'It's OK.' I think people would have more confidence," Van Uytvanck said after her doubles match at Wimbledon on July 4 that she played with her off-court partner of three years, Greet Minnen. They are the first openly lesbian couple to play doubles at the British tournament.
However, she added, "There must be some gay men [actively playing] out there. For me personally, [if I were] a man, it would be more difficult to come out" because of the stereotypes."
Van Uytvanck and Minnen, both Belgian, won their July 3 match, but lost to Taipei duo Hao-Ching Chan and Latisha Chan 6-2, 6-1 on July 5. Van Uytvanck lost in women's singles to the number-one player in the world, Australian Ash Barty, on July 4.