Melbourne, Jan 27 (UNI) Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos are the first all-Brazilian team to win a major after ending Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna’s farewell appearance together in the Australian Open mixed doubles final.
In an all-unseeded showdown, Stefani and Matos’s 7-6(2) 6-2 triumph over the Indian veterans capped a remarkable month Down Under.
Undefeated in two matches for Brazil in the season-opening United Cup in Brisbane, they carried their unbeaten run to Melbourne Park, all the way to Grand Slam silverware.
"Rohan and Sania… I know how many people you've inspired," Stefani said. "Like Brazil, like India, this means so much to our countries. It inspires the kids, it inspires the next generations. It's really special for me and Rafa.
It's an honour… I think it was about Wimbledon time last year Rafa asked me how I was doing. Such a good energy, good communication on the court and outside the court… It's a dream come true."
"I was doing rehab... when he asked me when I was coming back, so maybe we could play some mixed. That was a big motivation for me to keep working hard and now here we are winning our first Grand Slam in Australia."
In her final major, the 36-year-old Mirza admitted her emotions almost boiled over after the Indians stunned third seeds and reigning Wimbledon champions Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski in the semifinals.
On Friday, there was no holding them back after her final match at Melbourne Park, 22 years after she first teamed with Bopanna.
One of Mirza’s three mixed doubles Grand Slam titles came with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi at the 2009 Australian Open, while one of her three women’s doubles majors came at Melbourne Park with Martina Hingis in 2016.
"A hard ride, but wonderful": 'Original 9' reflect on the WTA's first 50 years. My journey of my professional career started in Melbourne… in 2005 when I played Serena Williams in the third round as an 18-year-old," Mirza said.
"That was scarily enough 18 years ago and I’ve had the privilege to come back here again and again and win some titles here. Rod Laver Arena has really been special in my life… To play the final, obviously we couldn't get over the line, but there's no better place and no better person to finish my Grand Slam career with.
"I never thought I'd be able to play in front of my child in a Grand Slam final, so it's truly special for me to have my four-year-old here and my parents here, Rohan's wife here."
While Stefani had not yet contested such a high-stakes showdown at Grand Slam level, she had snared a surprise women’s doubles bronze medal with Laura Pigossi at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
"Our first mixed doubles together was when she was 14 years old and we happened to win the title."
She follows in the footsteps of Brazilian great Maria Bueno, who won 19 majors, while Matos joins Gustavo Kuerten, Bruno Soares and Marcelo Melo as a Grand Slam champion.
"It was special to play with another Brazilian," Matos said. "Such a good energy, good communication on the court and outside the court… It's a dream come true. When you are a kid you always dream of winning a Slam. To do it today, it's no words to describe it."
Bopanna was looking to add a second Grand Slam title after his 2017 Roland Garros victory.
Despite coming up short, he paid tribute to his compatriot and friend.
"It's truly special for me to play with Sania," he said. "Our first mixed doubles together was when she was 14 years old and we happened to win the title. Today we get to play the last match here on Rod Laver Arena. Unfortunately we couldn't get the title, but thank you so much for your time, for Indian tennis, for inspiring each and everyone."
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