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Luisa Stefani
Brazilian tennis player (born 1997) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Luisa Veras Stefani[a] (Portuguese: [luˈizɐ ˈvɛɾas steˈfɐni]; born 9 August 1997) is a professional tennis player from Brazil who specializes in doubles. Stefani is the first Brazilian woman to reach the WTA top 10 in the Open era. This milestone for Brazilian tennis was hit on 1 November 2021, when she reached a career-high ranking of world No. 9 in doubles.[2] On 20 May 2019, she reached a singles ranking of No. 431. She had a ITF combined junior ranking of No. 10, on March 2015.
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She won the mixed-doubles competition at the 2023 Australian Open with Rafael Matos, becoming the first all Brazilian pair to win a major title. With that, Stefani also became the second Brazilian woman ever to win a major title in mixed doubles or any other event, after Maria Bueno that until that moment was the first and only Brazilian woman to become a Grand Slam champion, and also the first Brazilian woman ever to win a mixed doubles title at the Australian Open.[3]
Stefani is a bronze medalist in women's doubles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Representing Brazil, she partnered with Laura Pigossi to defeat Veronika Kudermetova and defending gold medalist Elena Vesnina in the bronze medal match. Stefani and Pigossi were only granted entry to the Olympics one week before the 2020 Games opened, with Stefani ranked No. 23 in the doubles rankings and Pigossi at No. 190, and had only played together once previously, a defeat at the 2020 Fed Cup, and yet became the first Brazilians to win an Olympic tennis medal, surpassing the performance of Fernando Meligeni that took 4th place in men's singles in 1996. During the campaign, they saved eight match points: four in the bronze medal match and another four against Czech players Karolína Plíšková and Markéta Vondroušová in the round of 16.[4][5][6]
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At the age of 14, Stefani's family moved to the United States, where it was hoped she would develop herself better in tennis. She started training at Saddlebrook Tennis Academy,[7] and eventually reached two junior Grand Slam semifinals in doubles: the 2014 French Open and the 2015 US Open. As she attended Pepperdine University, Stefani was ranked as high as No. 2 in the ITA rankings, and was also named the 2015 ITA National Rookie of the Year, having compiled a 40–6 record in her freshman season and reached the semifinals of the 2016 NCAA Singles Championships, where she lost to eventual champion Danielle Collins.[8] Stefani made her WTA Tour main-draw debut at the 2015 Brasil Tennis Cup where she received a singles main-draw wildcard.
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2019
Until 2019, Stefani tried to play both singles and doubles. The doubles kept being more productive, and once an invitation to make her tour debut at the 2019 Monterrey Open with Giuliana Olmos led to the semifinals and a ranking increase, she decided to stop playing singles to have more chances at appearing in bigger events. Soon afterward, Stefani made her major main-draw debut at French Open, partnering Australian Astra Sharma in doubles.[7]
In September, with Hayley Carter as partner, she reached the first WTA Tour doubles final at the Korea Open and, the following week, won the first career title at the Tashkent Open. With these campaigns, she entered the top 100 and reached a career-high ranking in doubles of No. 75 on 21 October 2019. After that, Stefani established a fixed partnership with Carter.
At the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Luisa won a bronze medal alongside Carolina Alves.
2020
In 2020, the Stefani/Carter duo reached the Australian Open third round, won the Challenger Series title in Newport, reached the Dubai quarterfinals in February, and won the Lexington Open in August. With that, they entered the top 40 for the first time.[9][10]
At the US Open, she had her best Grand Slam campaign in her career, reaching the quarterfinals, defeating the No. 6 seeds Japan duo Shuko Aoyama/Ena Shibahara in the round of 16.[11] It has been 38 years since a female doubles player from Brazil have gone as far in a Grand Slam tournament (the last time that Brazilians were in the quarterfinals was in Wimbledon in 1982: Patricia Medrado and Cláudia Monteiro).[12]
At the Italian Open, she reached the semifinals, losing only to the top seeds.[13] In October, she entered her first Premier final in Ostrava, playing with Gabriela Dabrowski.[14]
2021: Olympic bronze medal, WTA 1000 title, world No. 9 & injury
Stefani and Carter reached their first WTA 1000 final at the 2021 Miami Open. Stefani had to pass on the French Open, after being forced to endure an emergency appendicitis surgery. With Carter getting a season-ending injury at Wimbledon, Stefani announced she would spend the rest of the year with Gabriela Dabrowski.[8]
At the postponed Tokyo Olympics, Stefani won a bronze medal, partnering Laura Pigossi. They beat Russians Elena Vesnina and Veronika Kudermetova, after saving four match points in the final super tiebreak. Pigossi and Stefani became the first Brazilians in history to obtain an Olympic medal in tennis, surpassing Fernando Meligeni's campaign that took 4th place in 1996.[15]
Following the Olympics, seeded fifth, Stefani won her first WTA 1000, partnering Dabrowski, at the Canadian Open avenging their loss in the Silicon Valley Classic final to Darija Jurak and Andreja Klepač.[16] The following week, they followed this successful run by another, reaching the WTA 1000 final at the Cincinnati Open by defeating current Olympic champions, second seeded pair of Krejciková and Siniaková. They lost the final to Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai.[17]
The US Open had Stefani reaching her first major semifinal and fifth straight in 2021, partnering with Gabriela Dabrowski, only to injure her knee in the decisive game against Coco Gauff and Caty McNally and withdraw.[18] Stefani had to sit out the rest of the season following surgery to mend the anterior cruciate ligament injury.[19] Still in November, she rose to No. 9 of the doubles rankings. The only other Brazilian woman to rank so high was Maria Bueno before the Open era.[2][20]
2022: Back to WTA Tour, second WTA 1000 title, return to top 50
After nearly a year of recovering from her knee injury, Stefani announced her return to play at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in September, partnered with Ena Shibahara.[21] Before that, she visited the US Open to train among the WTA's best players.[21] During the major event, she arranged with Dabrowski for both to play the Chennai Open the week before Tokyo.[22] Stefani returned to the courts winning the WTA 250 title in Chennai along with Dabrowski.[23][24]
Ranked No. 217 at the WTA 1000 in Guadajalara, playing with Storm Sanders, she reached an unprecedented Brazilian final at the WTA 1000 level with Beatriz Haddad Maia. Stefani and Sanders won the title in a highly contested match in the tie-breaker.[25] As a result, she returned to the top 100 moving more than 160 positions up to a year-end ranking of No. 55.[citation needed]
Partnering Ingrid Martins, Stefani won the doubles title at the WTA 125 Montevideo Open, defeating Quinn Gleason and Elixane Lechemia in the final.[26] She closed the season at No. 48.[27]
2023: Historic mixed-doubles title, back to top 10
Stefani announced she would play the 2023 Australian Open with Caty McNally,[28] but withdrew without playing a game once McNally injured herself in the singles tournament.[29] Before that, she got together with McNally's former partner Taylor Townsend at the WTA 500 in Adelaide, where she won the tournament, rising to No. 34 in the world.[30]
Also during the Australian Open, Stefani and Brazilian partner Rafael Matos were crowned champions, after defeating the Indian duo of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna in straight sets. It was her first Grand Slam title and also the first for a 100% Brazilian pair at a major.[31]
Along with Zhang Shuai, Stefani won the WTA 500 in Abu Dhabi, returning to the top 30 in doubles.[32] Following two first-round exits, partnering with Anna Danilina, Stefani announced she would reunite with Dabrowski in the following two tournaments.[33] The duo then reached the quarterfinals in Indian Wells,[34] but fell in the first round of the Miami Open.[35] Stefani and Dabrowski also reached the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 Madrid Open, and the third round at Roland Garros.[36] Afterwards they decided to part ways, with Stefani stating she was frustrated with the low results.[37]
Later, playing with Caroline Garcia, Stefani won the WTA 500 in Berlin, with this reaching No. 14 in the WTA doubles rankings.[38] Still with Garcia, Stefani reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, along the way defeating sixth seeds Leylah Fernandez and Taylor Townsend, and former doubles world No. 1, Tímea Babos (who played alongside Kirsten Flipkens), before losing to the eventual champions, Hsieh Su-wei and Barbora Strýcová.[39]
Stefani made the Cincinnati quarterfinals, partnering Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova,[40] and upon her return to the US Open, alongside Jennifer Brady, repeated the semifinal that preceded her injury. With that, she returned to the top 10.[41] At the China Open, she reached the semifinals playing with compatriot Ingrid Martins, defeating en route second seeds Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, and then eighth seeds Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva, avenging her loss at the US Open.[42][43]
At the 2023 Pan American Games, Stefani and Laura Pigossi won the doubles gold medal.[44] Both having to play two finals on the same day, after winning gold in men's and women's doubles, Stefani and Marcelo Demoliner went to the mixed-doubles final and obtained another medal, now a silver.[45]
2024: Third WTA 1000 title
Stefani reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open playing with Demi Schuurs, this being her best campaign in this tournament to date.[46] At the Abu Dhabi Open, she partnered with Beatriz Haddad Maia, with whom she had won two ITF tournaments in 2019, serving as preparation for the 2024 Summer Olympics given they have the rankings to play the doubles tournament together.[47] They reached the semifinals but had to pull out of the decisive game once Haddad injured herself in the singles semifinal.[48]
At the Qatar Ladies Open, Stefani and Schuurs became tournament champions without losing a single set. It was the third WTA 1000 title in Stefani's career.[49][50] The duo withdrew without playing in the French Open due to Schuurs feeling back pain,[51] and fell in the first round of Wimbledon.[52] Stefani's return to the Olympics was also short-lived, an opening round loss in the mixed doubles partnering Thiago Seyboth Wild,[53] and a defeat in round 2 in the women's doubles alongside Haddad.[54]
In the US Open, Stefani and Schuurs were quarterfinalists.[55] In October, after falling in round one of the Wuhan Open,[56] even if the pair was still in the chase for the 2024 WTA Finals, Stefani declared she was ending her season sooner due to knee pain.[57]
Because of this, Brazil's team for the Billie Jean King Cup November's matches was announced without Stefani. The team selection included Luiza Fullana in her place.[58]
Also in October, Stefani interrupted her vacation and her knee treatment to join the WTA Finals as an alternate player. Originally on a break, Stefani was called to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to serve as an alternate with Demi Schuurs, ready to participate if needed in the doubles competition.[59]
In late November 2024, Luisa Stefani underwent knee surgery. The procedure was successful, and her recovery period was estimated to be only one month, allowing her to return to the courts in January 2025.[60][61][62]
While recovering, Stefani co-organized the "Torneio de Duplas Luisa Stefani e Carlos Omaki" in Cotia, São Paulo, held at the end of November 2024. The tournament aimed to promote doubles tennis in Brazil and was deemed a success.[63][64]
2025: Wimbledon final, two more WTA 500 titles, first WTA Tour title on clay
Luisa Stefani began her 2025 season confident in her recovery and aiming for strong results.[65] She signed a sponsorship deal with the Brazilian sportswear company Slyce, expressing enthusiasm about wearing and representing a local brand. She debuted the Slyce uniform at the Australian Open.[66][67]
Although she was part of the Brazilian team at the United Cup in Perth, Stefani did not play in any of the matches. The Brazilian team was not able to win any of their matches and was eliminated in the group stage.[68][69][70][71] At the Australian Open, Stefani partnered with American tennis player Peyton Stearns. In the first round of the doubles competition, they faced Ingrid Martins and Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu,[72][73] beating them in straight sets.[74][75][76] This was the first match in the 2025 season for Stefani and also her first one in four months.
In their second-round match, Stefani and Stearns faced Zhang Shuai and Kristina Mladenovic, and lost in straight sets. This was the first time Stefani did not play in the Australian Open mixed doubles draw since her 2021 injury.[77][78][79]
In her next tournament, the 2025 Upper Austria Ladies Linz, Stefani was scheduled to play alongside fellow Brazilian Ingrid Martins but with a strong entry list, they would be alternates. Because of that, Stefani changed her partner in the last minute and played with the Hungarian player Tímea Babos. This was the first time they played together. Babos and Stefani won in the semifinal by beating the top-seeded pair of Zhang Shuai and Kateřina Siniaková.[80]
The Brazilian-Hungarian pair won the title in a comeback victory and defeating the Ukrainian twin sisters Lyudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok in the final, which went to a deciding champions tiebreak.[81][82] This was Stefani's ninth final and ninth consecutive title since she returned from her injury in the 2021 US Open. The WTA 500 title in Linz was her tenth career title and her fourth in a WTA 500 tournament.[83][84]
Next, Stefani played at the three middle eastern WTA tournaments, first at the Abu Dhabi Open where she participated alongside Heather Watson and together they advanced to the quarterfinals in which they faced Zhang Shuai and Kristina Mladenovic and lost in the decider. [85]
At the Qatar Ladies Open in Doha, Stefani played with Peyton Stearns once again. In this tournament they advanced to the round of 16 and lost in two sets against Veronika Kudermetova and Chan Hao-ching. Because of that, Stefani was unable to defend her title that she had won playing with Demi Schuurs in 2024.[86]
Last, Stefani formed a partnership with former world No. 1 and Grand Slam champion, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, to play at the Dubai Championships in which they reached the quarterfinals but lost to Jeļena Ostapenko and Hsieh Su-wei.[87][88]
Stefani then went to play at the Indian Wells Open, where she formed a first time partnership with Leylah Fernandez. They stopped at the first round facing and losing to Gabriela Dabrowski, Stefani's former doubles partner, and Erin Routliffe in the decider.[89]
In the next week, Stefani was called once again to join the Time Brasil BRB, Brazil's team for the Billie Jean King Cup. This was the first time she was chosen to be in the team since the first semester of 2024, at the tie against Germany. [90]
Then, Stefani announced that she would resume her partnership with Babos, which would initially continue until the end of the clay court season. First they played at the Miami Open and reached the round of 16, loosing to Zhang Shuai and Elise Mertens in straight sets.[91]
Then Stefani went to Ostrava for the Billie Jean King Cup, in which she played two matches, first with Beatriz Haddad Maia, in which they faced Czech players Tereza Valentová and Linda Nosková, winning in straight sets, and next alongside Laura Pigossi, facing the Spaniards Sara Sorribes Tormo and Cristina Bucsa, loosing in straight sets.[92][93]
Continuing her partnership with Babos, they played at the WTA 500 Stuttgart Open. They advanced to the semifinals but lost to Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe, the top-seeded pair of the tournament, in three sets. Next, they played two WTA 1000 tournaments: first in Madrid, where they lost on the first round to Eri Hozumi and Ulrikke Eikeri, then they went to Rome and also lost in the first round, both in straight sets, this time playing against Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens.
After that, Stefani and Babos made their best performance on clay, winning their second title together at the WTA 500 event in Strasbourg. They overcame Hanyu Guo and Nicole Melichar-Martinez in the final in three sets. This was Stefani's fifth WTA 500 title, her 11th WTA title in general and the first on clay. This was also the first time Stefani won a title with the same partner, since she returned from her injury at the 2021 US Open.[94]
At Wimbledon, she reached the quarterfinals of the ladies’ doubles, alongside Babos, and reached the final in mixed doubles, partnering Joe Salisbury, marking the first Brazilian to get that stage of the tournament since Maria Bueno 58 years prior and the second ever in history.[95] They lost the championship match to Sem Verbeek and Kateřina Siniaková. Stefani and Salisbury had previously only played one tournament together, at the 2023 US Open.
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Performance timelines
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| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | P# | DNQ | A | Z# | PO | G | S | B | NMS | NTI | P | NH |
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.
Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Fed Cup/Billie Jean King Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records.
Doubles
Current through the 2025 Wimbledon Championships.
Mixed doubles
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Grand Slam tournament finals
Mixed doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)
Other significant finals
Summer Olympics
Doubles: 1 (bronze medal)
WTA 1000 tournaments
Doubles: 5 (3 titles, 2 runner-ups)
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WTA Tour finals
Doubles: 19 (11 titles, 8 runner-ups)
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WTA Challenger finals
Doubles: 4 (3 titles, 1 runner-up)
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ITF Circuit finals
Doubles: 22 (15 titles, 7 runner-ups)
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Best results by tournament type
Doubles
- WTA 125: Champion
- WTA 250: Champion
- WTA 500: Champion
- WTA 1000: Champion
- Grand Slam: Semifinalist
Mixed Doubles
- Grand Slam: Champion
Awards
- 2021
- Prêmio Brasil Olímpico (tennis) [97]
Notes
- This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Veras and the second or paternal family name is Stefani.
- The first Premier 5 event of the year has switched back and forth between the Dubai Tennis Championships and the Qatar Ladies Open since 2009. Dubai was classified as a Premier 5 event from 2009 to 2011 before being succeeded by Doha from 2012 to 2014. In 2015, Dubai regained its Premier 5 status, while Doha was demoted to Premier status. The Premier 5 tournaments were reclassified as WTA 1000 tournaments in 2021.
- The WTA International tournaments were reclassified as WTA 250 tournaments in 2021.
- The WTA Premier tournaments were reclassified as WTA 500 tournaments in 2021.
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References
External links
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