As Pride Month arrives alongside another dramatic Grand Slam season, we caught up with Edward Schmit to discuss The Open Era, his debut queer sports romance. The novel follows Austin Hardy, a 20-year-old tennis player who becomes the first openly gay man to compete in a Grand Slam tournament, thrust into an intense spotlight just as he begins navigating a growing connection with rival player Diego Cruz. We caught up with Edward to discuss LGBTQ+ visibility in professional tennis, the mental pressures of elite competition, and why The Open Era is a story about being out, rather than coming out:
The Open Era follows a player becoming the first openly gay man competing in a Grand Slam. What made you want to explore queerness and visibility through the world of professional tennis?
We’ve seen openly gay male pro athletes in almost every other major sport. I was curious what it was about tennis that might prevent someone from coming out. Tennis is an extremely solo sport, you don’t have teammates for support, it’s just you out there on the court. That can be isolating, and thoughts can easily spiral. I can imagine why a player might not want to invite extra attention.
In The Open Era, the main character, Austin Hardy, is 20-years-old and he recently turned pro. He came out when he was in high school and it was no big deal. But when he qualifies for the US Open, he makes history as the first openly gay male tennis player to compete in a Grand Slam. His sexuality becomes the center of attention, when he’d rather the focus be on his tennis. That’s a lot to deal with as a young person, and I thought it would make a compelling story.
The Open Era isn’t a coming out story, it’s a being out story, and Austin has to learn how to live, love, and win in the spotlight.
Tennis has such a long history with LGBTQ+ representation. Did you look at any real players or moments while shaping the book?
I love Billie Jean King, she’s such an icon. And she paved the way for so many queer athletes to be open and proud about who they are. There are a few shout outs to her in the book.
With tennis having a cultural moment again (hello Challengers), what did you want your story to bring to the conversation that feels new or more personal?
Challengers is such a blast, and it certainly helped the world see how sexy tennis can be. If you’re a fan of Challengers but wished it was gayer, The Open Era is for you. Jokes aside, I was also interested in exploring the mental side of the sport. The pressure of a Grand Slam tournament, the added media attention, and a crush on a new rival make Austin’s mental health take a turn for the worse. You get to see a lot of his journey in trying to handle that, and with a novel, the reader has a direct window into his head.
The book really leans into the mental side of sport. Did you draw on sports psychology research, and what interested you most about that aspect?
Outside of writing, I’m a passionate mental health advocate and my full time job is with a mental health nonprofit in the US. I was able to draw on experience both professionally and personally. A lot of Austin’s anxiety symptoms are similar to my own. I’m not a big journaling person, so it was nice to have this outlet to work out some of my thoughts on paper. Very, very public paper.
Writing sport on the page can be tricky. How did you approach tennis matches so they feel dynamic while still serving the emotional story?
There is quite a bit of matchplay in the book, and I knew from the start, it can’t just be for the plot. Each match has to feel different, with unique opponents and stakes, beyond winning or losing. They have to reveal character.
And don’t worry, I know not everyone is a tennis fan, and scoring can be complicated to wrap your head around. I definitely take care of the reader, you don’t have to know anything about tennis going in. You can still have a great time. You might even want to buy tickets to a tournament when you finish.
Finally, what was more fun to write — the on-court tension or the off-court chemistry?
I’m not doing my job well if the two don’t directly inform the other, don’t make me choose. The off-court chemistry between the two players definitely spills onto the court. The two friends turned lovers turned rivals are on a collision course from the very start of the book. And when they finally go head-to-head, sparks fly in more ways than one. I loved writing their match, and I promise it doesn’t end the way you think it will.
Only one of them can win the game of tennis, but who will win in the game of love?
