Tennis: Brazil’s Luisa Stefani wins WTA doubles in India
Sunday (Sep 18) proved to be a special day for 25-year-old Brazilian Luisa Stefani. She won the doubles at the WTA 250 in Chennai, India, alongside Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski. This is her first title after a year recovering from a surgery on her right knee. The Brazilian–Canadian duo played the final against Russian Anna Blinkova and Georgian Natela Dzalamidze: victory by two sets to zero (6/1 and 6/2).
“To play with Gabi… I’m lost for words. There’s no one I’d like to be beside more than her in this comeback. She was with me after my injury, when things got tough, and now getting the title together is inexplicable,” said an emotional Stefani during an interview with the organizers of WTA Chennai.
Stefani and Dabrowski were playing in the semifinals of the US Open last year when the Brazilian broke the cruciate ligament in her right knee. Before that, they had been champions together in the WTA of Montreal, Canada, and runners-up in San Jose and Cincinnati, both in the US. Also last season, Stefani was runner-up twice with US Hayley Carter—in the WTA 500 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and in the WTA 500 in Adelaide, Australia.
The next challenge for the Brazilian will be the WTA 500 in Tokyo, Japan, starting Monday (19), where she is expected to play next to Japanese Ena Shibahara. Right on her debut, Stefani will face Gabi Gabrowski with another partner, Mexican Giulia Olmos. Stefani has fond memories of Tokyo, where she won bronze—her first Olympic medal—alongside compatriot Laura Pigossi last year.
“Now, that’s life, that’s tennis. Nothing describes tennis better. Today, we’re here together, winning a title; in the next tournament, we’re up against each other. And I’m really looking forward to having a good match against them. They’re having a great year. They’re really in tune with each other,” Stefani concluded.
