Another bad news for Brazilian tennis at this Australian Open. After defeats in the debut of Ceara Thiago Monteiro and São Paulo Beatriz Haddad Maia and Laura Pigossi, now it was the turn of São Paulo Luisa Stefani to fail. She won’t even be able to play the doubles bracket because of the withdrawal of her partner, the North American Caty McNally, who suffered a thigh injury.
Interestingly, it was precisely McNally who defeated Pigossi in the first round of singles . The American, however, did not go much further and was overcome in the second round, losing in straight sets to the Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova in straight sets, with partials of 6/1 and 7/6 (7-4).
Stefani’s partnership with McNally will be replaced by North American alternates Claire Liu and Sabrina Santamaria, who will face home tennis players Astra Sharma and Jaimee Fourlis in the first round of doubles. The only thing left for the Brazilian now is the mixed doubles bracket, in which she will have Rafael Matos by her side .
“Unfortunately my partner withdrew. Very tough situation and out of my control. Move forward”, said Stefani. “I have to keep my head up and carry the good energy from last week’s United Cup and Adelaide title into the mixed doubles with Matos tomorrow. I love the Australian Open and will enjoy this time here until the end.”
