Brazil It’s a real party and all thanks to Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos. The pair prevailed in the mixed doubles final against Indians Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna 7-6 (2) and 6-2 to become the first South Americans to lift the Australian Open trophy in this modality.
A match that presented a great parity in the first round, coming to a close in a tie-break with three service breaks in favor of the Brazilians. The second set already showed a wide advantage for the winning couple that reached 4-1 in just over 20 minutes.
In this way they mark a new milestone in the history of South American tennis, something that the Argentines could not do Paola Suárez and Gastón Etlis in Australia 2002 when they fell in two sets to the Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova and the Zimbabwean Kevin Ullyett.
How else was it enough, too they became the first mixed pairing to win the Australian Open to represent the same country since 2013. The last time it had been the locals Jarmila Gajdosova y Matthew Ebden. Plus, the first non-Australian duo to win since 2009When did the Indians do it? Sania Mirzaif the same one that lost this final, and Mahesh Bhupathi.
For his part, The 36-year-old Indian tennis player says goodbye to tennis after placing in her showcase three Grand Slam titles in doubles, two in mixed doubles, reaching two WTA Finals and having been No. 1 in the world in this modality.
