First and foremost, congratulations to 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur and her partner, Liz, on the birth of their baby girl.
The 36-year-old Australian tennis pro made the announcement of Genevieve's June arrival Monday on Instagram.
''Life in lockdown during coronavirus has been challenging in many ways but personally it's been one of the most exciting and happy times of my life,'' Stosur wrote. ''It has been a whirlwind time but we could not imagine life without her now.''
Indeed.
But now for my nitpicking. In addition to beating Serena Williams in New York in the final nine years ago, Stosur was the runner-up at the French Open in 2010, a semifinalist at Roland Garros three times and was ranked as high as No. 4 in the world in singles. And in doubles, she has been ranked No. 1 and won three Grand Slam trophies, most recently at the 2019 Australian Open.
That someone of her stature -- who is a current WTA player -- has never taken the time to come out publicly is extremely disappointing. Apparently she casually referred to her partner in a speech late last year, yet it wasn't treated as the news it should have been. (Shame on the journalists there that night. I just learned of this today.) Of course everyone has a right to their own way of handling things. But I can't help but think of the young gay boys and lesbians out there -- perhaps young tennis enthusiasts like I was -- who might be in dire need of someone to look up to. (Which is to say nothing of countrywoman Casey Dellacqua, who did come out and had to deal with nasty Margaret Court as if she were the only gay player on the tour.) Such a shame Stosur chose not to think of others. The suicide among queer youth is still way too disproportionately high to be so myopic, no matter what her personal situation may be. Wealth, privilege and fame go a long way to insulate people from what ever her issues may be.
P.S. Maybe if she had officially come out, we could have avoided this unfortunate headline.
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