Tag Archives: Rafael Matos

Thiago Monteiro Leads Brazil Past Host Sweden to Advance to Davis Cup Finals Group Stage for First Time

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Thiago Monteiro has helped his home country make Davis Cup history…

The 29-year-old Brazilian professional tennis player has led Brazil to its first spot in the Davis Cup finals group stage, beating host Sweden’s Elias Ymer 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday for a 3-1 team victory.

Thiago Monteiro“I’m just happy to help the team,” Monteiro said. “Everyone had put a lot of effort in to make this work. It is the job of the whole team.”

Earlier in doubles on the hard court at Helsingborg Arena, Brazil’s Felipe Meligeni Alves and Rafael Matos topped Filip Bergevi and Andre Goransson 6-2, 7-5. In the opening singles matches Friday,

Monteiro beat Karl Friberg, and Ymer edged Gustavo Heide for Sweden’s lone point.

Brazil won its third straight match after topping China and Denmark last year in World Group I.

The 12 winners this week will join reigning champion Italy, 2023 runner-up Australia, and wild-card entries Britain and Spain in the finals group stage in September. Then eight teams will make it to the quarterfinals in Malaga, Spain, in November, when a champion will be determined.

Luisa Stefani & Rafael Matos Win Australian Open Mixed Doubles Title to Become First All-Brazilian Team to Win Grand Slam

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Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos are celebrating a historic win Down Under…

The 25-year-old Brazilian professional tennis player and her 27-year-old compatriot defeated Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna 7-6 (2), 6-2 on Friday to win the Australian Open mixed doubles title.

Luisa Stefani & Rafael MatosWith the win, Stefani and Matos become the first all-Brazilian team to win a Grand Slam.

The Brazilian pair took a 3-0 lead in the tiebreaker, and Mirza and Bopanna fought back to 3-2, but that was to be the last points the Indian duo took. They missed two overheads in a row, including Mirza’s shot into the net on set point.

Stefani and Matos broke Mirza’s serve in the fourth game of the second set to go up 3-1, with the break point coming after a lengthy exchange between the teams.

Stefani and Matos are undefeated as a team, having won all seven matches together at the United Cup and at Melbourne Park.

Stefani said an invitation from Matos to play together on her return from a serious knee injury provided inspiration as she completed her rehabilitation last year.

“It was about Wimbledon time last year, and he asked me how I was doing,” she said. “I was doing rehab. … That was a big motivation for me to keep working hard and keep getting closer to coming back.

“Now here we are, winning our first Grand Slam together in Australia in this beautiful court. … It’s a dream come true.”