Brazilians Rafael Matos and Luisa Stefani sunk their teeth into the Australian Open mixed doubles trophy on Friday, still yet to taste defeat as a duo. With a 7-6(2), 6-2 final victory against the Indian pair of Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza, Matos/Stefani improved to 7-0 as a team and claimed what is a first Grand Slam title for both in any discipline.
The champions began their partnership in 2023, going 2-0 at the United Cup before extending their perfect start in Melbourne.
"Luisa, thank you so much for these two weeks, actually this month," Matos said during the trophy ceremony. "It was special playing with another Brazilian player... I think we worked really good these two weeks, we were focussed on what we wanted, and we did it!"
Matos became the fifth Brazilian man to win a major title, while Stefani is now the second woman from the nation to secure Grand Slam glory. Stefani, who has won 18 of 20 women's doubles matches since returning from knee surgery in September, was not able to compete in the Melbourne women's doubles draw after partner Caty McNally withdrew.
The 25-year-old recalled when Matos first asked her about teaming up for mixed doubles: "It was about Wimbledon time last year. I was doing rehab, closer to coming back but I was still working hard," she said. "When he asked me when I was coming back so maybe we could play some mixed, that was a big motivation to me to keep working hard, keep getting closer to coming back. And now here we are, winning our first Grand Slam together in Australia, on this beautiful court, amazing day, in front of this amazing crowd with lots of Brazilians here.
"It's really special and incredible to share this dream with you and our team."
Both Matos and Stefani paid triubute to Mirza in their trophy speeches, honouring the 36-year-old who was playing her final Grand Slam event. Mirza won six major titles in her career, three in women's doubles and three in mixed. Her final tournament will be in Dubai in February.
Bopanna, 42, was seeking to become the oldest Grand Slam winner since Martine Navratilova won the 2006 US Open mixed doubles crown at 49.
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