Paris, France) – The resumption of the partnership between Luísa Stefani and Rafael Matos was made with a moving victory in Paris. After clinching the Australian Open mixed doubles title in January, the Brazilian pair made a solid debut on clay at Roland Garros. Stefani and Matos saved four match points and beat French guests Diane Parry and Harold Mayot 6-3, 6-7 (5-7) and 15-13 on Thursday.

There is the possibility of a meeting with another French duo, Alizé Cornet and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, or against the 8th seed in mixed doubles, the Chinese Shuai Zhang and the Croatian Ivan Dodig. In the same quadrant, Jessica Pegula and Austin Krajicek were the main seeds, but lost in the debut to French partner Elixane Lechemia and Albano Olivetti by 5/7, 6/3, 10-7.

The 25-year-old from São Paulo and currently 23rd in the standings, Luísa Stefani is also in the second round of the women’s doubles in Paris, alongside Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski. They face the Hungarian Dalma Galfi and the Polish Katarzyna Piter. Rafael Matos of Rio Grande do Sul, 27 years old and 26th in the standings, plays alongside Portuguese Francisco Cabral. They will face Australian Max Purcell and American Ben Shelton in the second round.

Stefani and Matos put on a great performance in the first set, with constant pressure on the opposing serve. The Brazilians created break chances in three different games and took advantage of two of those chances, winning four games in a row by the end of the set.

The second half was entirely without breaks, with Stefani and Matos not even facing break points. The Brazilian duo even had match point as they were leading 6/5, but Diane Parry confirmed the service game to force the tie-break. At the tie-break, champions Melbourne were two points from victory as they led 5-4, but Mayot called the blame. He confirmed his two serves then proved decisive at the bottom of the rally to close the set.

The definition was left for the match-tie-break, with a very electric atmosphere on the court. Even in smaller numbers, the Brazilian supporters rivaled the French public, who supported the tennis players of the house. Parry and Mayot started the deciding set with a good moment and opened 5-2, but Stefani and Matos went for the tie.

The Brazilian duo managed to save two match points until the 9-9 draw and had two more chances to close the match, one of them on serve. Again, Mayot led a French reaction, but Matos and Stefani managed to save match points in sharp arguments. The Olympic medalist produced a decisive performance in the last three points of the match, with beautiful volleys and a beautiful return, to consolidate the victory.