Bobby Blair is an American former professional tennis player whose rise through the junior, collegiate, and professional ranks made him one of the standout competitors of the 1980s. Born in Fort Lauderdale in 1964, Blair emerged early as a top national junior, earning the No. 1 ranking in Florida and No. 5 in the United States in 1983 after training at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, one of the sport’s most elite development centers.
He went on to become an All‑American at the University of Arkansas, reaching a No. 4 national NCAA Division I ranking in 1986 and securing wins over future ATP professionals including Rick Leach, Brad Pearce, and Steve DeVries.
Blair competed professionally from 1984 to 1988, achieving a career‑high ATP singles ranking of No. 490 and doubles ranking of No. 557 in 1986. His professional highlights include a doubles second‑round appearance at the 1985 U.S. Pro Tennis Championships with partner Jay Berger and a notable victory over Wimbledon champion Pat Cash at Forest Hills in 1985.
After retiring from the tour, Blair served as a USTA National Coach, later becoming head coach and general manager for World Team Tennis under Billie Jean King. He went on to found one of the largest tennis academies in the United States, continuing his commitment to developing the next generation of players.
Blair is also known for his groundbreaking visibility as a gay athlete. He publicly came out in his late 40s and authored the memoir Hiding Inside the Baseline, which chronicles his experience navigating elite sports while closeted and the personal toll of that secrecy.
Beyond tennis, Blair built a significant business career, founding Multimedia Platforms Inc.—once the largest LGBTQ+ print media company in the U.S.—and later LGBTQ Loyalty Holdings, which launched the first LGBTQ Index on the NYSE and the first LGBTQ ETF on NASDAQ.
Today, Blair continues to champion LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports, business, and finance, using his platform to support athletes and professionals navigating identity, visibility, and leadership.
