Rafael Matos
Rafael Matos (born January 6, 1996) is a Brazilian professional tennis player who specializes in doubles competitions on the ATP Tour.[1] A left-handed player with a two-handed backhand, he stands at 6 feet (183 cm) tall and weighs 167 pounds (76 kg).[1] Matos turned professional after a college career at Belmont University in the United States, where he played from 2010 to 2012.[2] Matos achieved a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 26 on February 6, 2023.[1] As of November 10, 2025, he is ranked No. 42 in doubles with 1,980 points, having recorded a year-to-date win-loss record of 24–22 and securing two titles in 2025.[1] Over his career, he has amassed 11 ATP doubles titles and a combined singles and doubles win-loss record of 133–102, earning more than $1.27 million in prize money.[1] His coaches are Franco Ferreiro and Luiz Peniza.[1] Among his notable achievements, Matos won the 2023 Australian Open mixed doubles title with compatriot Luisa Stefani, becoming the first all-Brazilian pair to claim a Grand Slam title.[3] He won the 2024 Rio Open doubles title with Nicolás Barrientos, becoming the first Brazilian to claim a title at the event in a decade.[4] In 2025, he defended his Rio Open crown with compatriot Marcelo Melo, marking the first all-Brazilian pairing to win the tournament and his second consecutive victory there.[5] Later that year, Matos and Melo captured the Winston-Salem Open doubles title, their third as a team following a prior win in Stuttgart in 2024.[6] These successes highlight his prowess on clay and hard courts, contributing to Brazil's growing presence in international doubles tennis.[5]Early life and background
Early life
Rafael Fabris de Matos was born on 6 January 1996 in Porto Alegre, Brazil, where he resides.[1] He grew up in the city and was introduced to tennis during his childhood, beginning to play the sport at the age of six in 2002 while on vacation in Xangri-lá, a coastal town in Rio Grande do Sul.[7] His early experiences with the game were influenced by the local tennis culture in Rio Grande do Sul, where he trained and competed in regional circuits as a youth.[7] Matos has cited Roger Federer as his idol, drawing inspiration from the Swiss player's style and achievements during his formative years.[8] By his early teens, he had transitioned to more structured junior competitions, marking the start of his development in Brazilian tennis.[9] Outside of tennis, Matos enjoys playing padel and beach activities, reflecting his roots in coastal Brazil.[8] His favorite foods include sushi, pizza, and hamburgers.[8] He is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English.[8]College career
No reliable information is available regarding Rafael Matos's college education or collegiate tennis career.Junior and early professional career
Junior career
Matos emerged as a promising talent in Brazilian junior tennis, achieving a national ranking of No. 10 in 2007.[2] He competed in numerous ITF junior events, reaching a career-high combined ranking of No. 37 on January 6, 2014, and recording an overall win-loss percentage of 66% in singles (19–10).[10] From an early stage, Matos prioritized doubles development, compiling a 13–10 win-loss record (57% win rate) across surfaces, including 67% on grass and 62% on hard courts, which helped forge key partnerships for his subsequent career.[11] His junior peak arrived in 2014, highlighted by a runner-up finish in boys' doubles at the US Open alongside João Menezes, where the Brazilian pair fell to champions Omar Jasika and Naoki Nakagawa, 6–3, 7–6(6).[12] This achievement marked a strong culmination to his junior tenure, emphasizing his doubles specialization before fully transitioning to professional play while having turned pro in 2011.2011–18: Early professional and Challenger success
Matos turned professional in 2011, balancing commitments as he began entering ITF Futures events, focusing on both singles and doubles on the South American circuit, particularly on clay courts in Brazil. In singles, Matos achieved moderate success at the entry level, winning four ITF Futures titles and reaching nine finals overall, compiling a 4-5 record in those decisive matches. His progress culminated in a career-high ranking of No. 440 on 21 May 2018, with year-end positions hovering in the mid-500s during the period, such as No. 611 at the end of 2018.[13][14] Doubles proved to be Matos's stronger discipline early on, where he captured 11 titles across Challenger and ITF Futures events from 20 finals, yielding an 11-9 record. He built key partnerships with Brazilian compatriots, such as with Felipe Mantilla in several Futures wins, emphasizing consistent play on clay surfaces in regional tournaments, which helped hone his net skills and baseline resilience. Notable results included five Futures titles in 2016 and three in 2015, along with his first Challenger doubles title in 2018 at the São Paulo Challenger with João Pedro Sorgi, contributing to his rising profile in lower-tier professional play.[15] By late 2018, these efforts propelled Matos into the ATP doubles top 300 for the first time, ending the year at No. 298 after climbing from outside the top 400 earlier in the season.[14] This period laid the foundation for his transition to higher-level competition, with his focus on doubles yielding steadier results than in singles.ATP career
2019–20: ATP debut and first major upsets
Matos made his ATP Tour main draw debut in the doubles event at the 2019 Brasil Open in São Paulo, partnering compatriot Igor Marcondes as a wildcard entry. The Brazilian pair faced Sander Gillé and Joran Vliegen in the first round, falling in a three-set match. This appearance marked Matos's transition from the Challenger circuit, where he had built momentum through consistent performances, to the higher level of professional doubles competition.[16] Throughout 2019, Matos qualified for the main draws of select ATP events on the South American clay swing, gaining valuable experience against more established pairs, though results remained modest as he adapted to the tour's intensity. His efforts contributed to gradual ranking progress, ending the year at No. 207 in doubles. The following year brought a breakthrough moment at the 2020 Rio Open, another ATP 500 on home soil, where Matos, paired with Orlando Luz on a wildcard, achieved a major upset in the first round. They defeated the top-seeded and world No. 1 duo of Juan Sebastián Cabal and Robert Farah—the reigning Wimbledon and US Open champions—6–4, 4–6, 10–8 in a super tiebreak decider. This victory propelled the Brazilians to the quarterfinals, where they fell to Felipe Meligeni Alves and Thiago Monteiro. Matos and Luz's run highlighted their aggressive baseline play and resilience on clay, earning widespread attention in Brazil.[17][18] Matos continued to focus on the South American clay events in early 2020, reaching additional quarterfinals in ATP 500 tournaments during the swing, which helped solidify his presence on the tour. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the season after March, limiting further opportunities and shifting his focus back to Challengers upon resumption. By the end of 2020, these ATP appearances had boosted his doubles ranking into the top 150, closing the year at No. 139, reflecting his growing competitiveness at the elite level.[14]2021–22: Breakthrough titles and top 30 debut
In 2021, Matos secured his maiden ATP doubles title at the Córdoba Open, partnering with compatriot Felipe Meligeni Alves to defeat Romain Arneodo and Benoît Paire in the final.[19] Later that year, he made his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon, teaming with Thiago Monteiro to advance to the second round before falling to Juan Sebastián Cabal and Robert Farah. These achievements propelled him into the ATP doubles top 100 for the first time, reaching No. 99 on May 3.[14] Building on this momentum, Matos enjoyed a breakout 2022 season, capturing five ATP doubles titles across various surfaces and partners, including victories at the Buenos Aires ATP 250 with Marcelo Demoliner, the Belgrade Open with Juan Sebastián Cabal, the Gstaad Open with Andrés Molteni, the Winston-Salem Open with Demoliner, and the Tel Aviv Open with Molteni.[19] At the French Open, his debut at the tournament, he partnered with David Vega Hernández to reach the quarterfinals, marking his best Grand Slam result to date in men's doubles.[20] Over the 2021–22 period, these successes yielded six ATP titles in total, with Matos frequently collaborating with fellow Brazilians such as Demoliner and Meligeni Alves to amass more than 20 match wins in 2022 alone.[21] By October 31, 2022, his consistent performances earned him entry into the ATP doubles top 30 at No. 30.[14]2023: Grand Slam mixed doubles title
In January 2023, Rafael Matos partnered with compatriot Luisa Stefani to win the Australian Open mixed doubles title, marking the first all-Brazilian pair to claim a Grand Slam championship.[22] The unseeded duo went undefeated across seven matches, culminating in a 7–6(2), 6–2 victory over India's Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna in the final.[3] This success also represented Stefani's maiden Grand Slam title and elevated Matos's profile in mixed doubles events.[23] On the men's doubles circuit, Matos achieved a career-high ranking of No. 26 on February 6, 2023, building on his prior top-30 entry from the previous year.[14] Partnering primarily with Francisco Cabral, he delivered consistent performances at ATP 250 and 500 levels, including runner-up finishes at the Nordea Open in Båstad (lost 6–7(4), 4–6 to Gonzalo Escobar/Aleksandr Nedovyesov in the final) and the Chengdu Open (lost 4–6, 7–5, 7–10 to Sadio Doumbia/Fabien Reboul). He also reached the quarterfinals at the Queen's Club Championships, an ATP 500 event, with Nicolas Jarry.[24] Despite no ATP titles in men's doubles, Matos's steady deep runs contributed to earnings of $224,292 in prize money, underscoring his growing consistency on the tour.[25]2024: ATP 500 breakthrough
In February 2024, Matos achieved his first ATP 500 doubles title at the Rio Open, partnering with Nicolás Barrientos to defeat the Austrian pair of Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler 6–4, 6–3 in the final. This victory marked the first Brazilian doubles title at the event in a decade, since Marcelo Melo's win in 2014, and provided Matos with a significant home-country triumph on clay courts in Rio de Janeiro.[4] Later in the season, Matos secured two ATP 250 titles, bringing his total for 2024 to three. In June, he won the Stuttgart Open (BOSS Open) on grass alongside Marcelo Melo, overcoming Erler and Robert Galloway 3–6, 6–3, 10–8 in the championship match.[26] In July, Matos claimed his ninth career ATP doubles title at the Swedish Open in Båstad, teaming with Orlando Luz to beat Manuel Guinard and Grégoire Jacq 7–5, 6–4 on clay. At the Grand Slams in 2024, Matos reached the second round at the Australian Open with Barrientos, the second round at the French Open with Melo, and the second round at Wimbledon with Melo, before exiting in the first round at the US Open with Melo.[27] Overall, he recorded more than 20 match wins in doubles during the year.[1] Matos maintained a position inside the top 50 in the ATP doubles rankings throughout much of 2024, ending the year at No. 36 after starting at No. 59, and earned $292,387 in prize money.[28]2025: Title defenses and consistent Grand Slam results
Matos began the 2025 season partnering with Marcelo Melo, successfully defending his Rio Open title in February by defeating Pedro Martínez and Jaume Munar 6–2, 7–5 in the final, marking the first successful defense of the Rio doubles crown in tournament history and his 10th career ATP doubles title.[5][29] The all-Brazilian duo's victory made them the first home team to claim the Rio doubles trophy, thrilling local fans at the ATP 500 event on clay.[5] In August, Matos and Melo captured their second title of the year at the Winston-Salem Open, staging a comeback from a set down to upset third seeds Francisco Cabral and Lucas Miedler 4–6, 6–4, 10–8 in a tense super-tiebreak final that lasted 93 minutes.[30] This ATP 250 hard-court win highlighted their resilience, as they fended off multiple match points to secure the championship at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.[6] At the Grand Slams, Matos and Melo showed consistency, reaching the round of 64 at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, advancing to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon where they fell in a competitive match, and progressing to the round of 32 at the US Open.[31] Their Wimbledon run included notable victories over seeded pairs, underscoring improved grass-court form.[32] Overall, Matos compiled a 24–22 doubles win-loss record in 2025, earning approximately $325,000 in prize money while maintaining a top-50 ATP doubles ranking, ending the year at No. 42 as of November 10.[1][25] In the late season, the pair achieved deep runs in ATP 250 and 500 events, including a quarterfinal appearance at the Moselle Open in Metz, where they were defeated by Sander Arends and Luke Johnson on November 6. Following the Moselle Open, Matos and Melo did not play additional matches as of November 15, 2025.[33]Playing style and equipment
Playing style
Rafael Matos is a left-handed player with a two-handed backhand, employing an aggressive baseline style that leverages his forehand as his favorite and most commanding shot.[1] This approach allows him to dictate points through precise angles, spins, and transitions from defense to offense, particularly on his preferred clay surface where slower conditions provide additional time for execution.[34][35] In doubles, Matos excels with strong net play, including effective volleys and smashes, complemented by solid returns and tactical serving to maintain control during rallies.[36][35] His quick reflexes and excellent game reading enable him to read opponents effectively, while his endurance supports prolonged exchanges, often relying on consistency and few unforced errors rather than overwhelming power.[35] Matos thrives in partnerships with complementary right-handed players, where his left-handed game creates advantageous angles and balances the team's dynamics.[36] Post-2023, he has adapted his game to hard courts, evidenced by his Australian Open mixed doubles title and subsequent successes like the 2024 Stuttgart doubles win, enhancing his versatility across surfaces.[37][26]Equipment and coaches
Rafael Matos is primarily coached by Franco Ferreiro, a fellow Brazilian who has guided his career progression on the ATP Tour, with Luiz Peniza serving as a secondary coach.[1][38] These coaches have supported Matos since his early professional years, fostering a long-term partnership rooted in Brazilian tennis development.[20] Matos bases his training in Brazil, his home country, where he was born and raised in Porto Alegre.[8] This setup allows him to maintain close collaboration with his coaches and adapt his preparation to surfaces like clay, which align with his preferred playing conditions.[34]National representation
Davis Cup
Rafael Matos debuted for Brazil's Davis Cup team in September 2021 during the World Group II play-off against Lebanon, partnering Marcelo Demoliner in doubles. They defeated Hady Habib and Benjamin Hassan 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(5), securing a crucial point in Brazil's 4-0 victory that promoted the team to the World Group I play-offs.[39] Matos has since emerged as Brazil's primary doubles specialist, competing in nine ties through September 2025 and frequently partnering with Felipe Meligeni Alves and Marcelo Melo. Key victories include the 2022 World Group I tie against Portugal, where he and Meligeni Alves beat Nuno Borges and Francisco Cabral 6-3, 0-6, 6-3 in a 1-3 team loss; the 2023 World Group I match versus China, winning 6-2, 6-3 over Jie Cui and Zhang Zhizhen to earn Brazil's lone point in a 1-3 defeat; and the 2024 qualifier against Sweden, topping Filip Bergevi and André Göransson 6-2, 7-5 alongside Meligeni Alves to clinch a 3-1 win that qualified Brazil for the Finals group stage for the first time.[40][41][42] In the 2024 Finals group stage, Matos and Meligeni Alves lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to Sander Gillé and Joran Vliegen of Belgium in a 2-1 team win; with Melo, he defeated Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy 7-6(3), 6-7(6), 7-5 in a 1-2 team loss (dead rubber); and with Melo, fell 6-4, 7-6(4) to Wesley Koolhof and Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands in a 1-2 defeat. He continued in 2025, losing with Melo 4-6, 6-3, 4-6 to Benjamin Bonzi and Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the qualifier against France (Brazil lost 0-4), before winning 6-2, 6-2 over Petros Tsitsipas and Aristotelis Thanos of Greece in World Group I to help Brazil stay in the top division.[43][44][45] Matos holds a 6-3 doubles record, with his contributions vital in maintaining Brazil's World Group I status and marking him as the nation's foremost doubles representative in the modern era following Marcelo Melo's transition to a supporting role.[46]Career statistics
Performance timelines
Rafael Matos has focused primarily on doubles since turning professional, with limited singles activity. His overall ATP doubles win-loss record is 133–102 as of November 2025, with 11 titles. Singles record is minimal post-2020.[1]Grand Slam doubles performance timeline
Rafael Matos's doubles results at Grand Slam tournaments are summarized below. He primarily competes in doubles, with no main draw appearances in singles at these events.[47]| Tournament | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open (AO) | A | A | 1R | 1R | 1R |
| French Open (FO) | A | QF | 3R | 1R | 1R |
| Wimbledon (W) | 2R | 3R | 1R | 1R | QF |
| US Open (US) | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R |
Grand Slam mixed doubles performance timeline
Matos has competed in mixed doubles at Grand Slams, achieving his career highlight with the 2023 Australian Open title alongside Luisa Stefani.[3][22]| Tournament | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open (AO) | A | A | W | A | A |
| French Open (FO) | A | A | QF | A | 2R |
| Wimbledon (W) | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | A |
| US Open (US) | A | A | 1R | A | 2R |
ATP Masters 1000 doubles performance timeline
Matos has participated in several ATP Masters 1000 events, primarily reaching the early rounds, with his deepest run being the third round at the 2023 French Open (a Grand Slam, not Masters). Specific Masters results include consistent first- and second-round appearances across events like Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo from 2022 onward, contributing to his career-high ranking. Detailed year-by-year progression in individual Masters tournaments is limited in available records, but he has not advanced beyond the quarterfinals in any Masters 1000 doubles draw.[1]ATP 500 and 250 doubles performance timeline
In ATP 500 and 250 events, Matos has shown consistent progression, often reaching semifinals or finals, as detailed in his significant finals. Notable examples include quarterfinals at the 2022 Chile Open (ATP 250) and winning the 2025 Rio Open (ATP 500), reflecting his breakthrough in lower-tier ATP events leading to top-30 ranking debut. Representative results highlight his 11 career titles, primarily at 250 and 500 levels, with wins in 2022 (Santiago, Marrakech) and 2025 (Rio, Winston-Salem).[19]Significant finals
Rafael Matos has appeared in one Grand Slam final, achieved in mixed doubles at the 2023 Australian Open partnering with compatriot Luisa Stefani.[3] This victory represented Brazil's first Grand Slam mixed doubles title, as the unseeded pair defeated India's Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna 7–6(2), 6–2 in the final without dropping a set throughout the tournament.[22][23]| Tournament | Year | Partner | Opponents | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | 2023 | Luisa Stefani | Sania Mirza / Rohan Bopanna | Won | 7–6(2), 6–2 |
ATP and lower-level finals
Rafael Matos has competed primarily in doubles on the ATP Tour, reaching 18 finals and securing 11 titles as of November 2025.[19] His first ATP doubles title came in 2021 at the Córdoba Open alongside Felipe Meligeni Alves, and subsequent successes include multiple wins on clay surfaces, reflecting his strong baseline game suited to slower courts.[19] He has partnered with various players, notably David Vega Hernández in 2022 for four titles and Marcelo Melo in recent years for high-level consistency.[19] The following table lists all of Matos's ATP Tour doubles finals chronologically:| Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Córdoba Open | Clay | Felipe Meligeni Alves | Romain Arneodo / Benoît Paire | 6–4, 6–1 | Win |
| 2021 | Belgrade Open | Clay | Andre Göransson | Jonathan Erlich / Andrei Vasilevski | 4–6, 1–6 | Loss |
| 2022 | Chile Open | Clay | Felipe Meligeni Alves | Andre Göransson / Nathaniel Lammons | 7–6(10–8), 7–6(7–3) | Win |
| 2022 | Grand Prix Hassan II | Clay | David Vega Hernández | Andrea Vavassori / Jan Zieliński | 6–1, 7–5 | Win |
| 2022 | Bavarian Championships | Clay | David Vega Hernández | Kevin Krawietz / Andreas Mies | 6–4, 4–6, [7–10] | Loss |
| 2022 | Mallorca Championships | Grass | David Vega Hernández | Ariel Behar / Gonzalo Escobar | 7–6(7–5), 6–7(6–8), [10–1] | Win |
| 2022 | Swedish Open | Clay | David Vega Hernández | Simone Bolelli / Fabio Fognini | 6–4, 3–6, [13–11] | Win |
| 2022 | Sofia Open | Hard (i) | David Vega Hernández | Fabian Fallert / Oscar Otte | 3–6, 7–5, [10–8] | Win |
| 2022 | Japan Open | Hard | David Vega Hernández | Mackenzie McDonald / Marcelo Melo | 4–6, 6–3, [4–10] | Loss |
| 2023 | Swedish Open | Clay | Francisco Cabral | Gonzalo Escobar / Aleksandr Nedovyesov | 2–6, 2–6 | Loss |
| 2023 | Chengdu Open | Hard | Francisco Cabral | Sadio Doumbia / Fabien Reboul | 6–4, 5–7, [7–10] | Loss |
| 2024 | Rio Open | Clay | Nicolás Barrientos | Alexander Erler / Lucas Miedler | 6–4, 6–3 | Win |
| 2024 | Stuttgart Open | Grass | Marcelo Melo | Robert Galloway / Julian Cash | 3–6, 6–3, [10–8] | Win |
| 2024 | Swedish Open | Clay | Orlando Luz | Manuel Guinard / Grégoire Jacq | 7–5, 6–4 | Win |
| 2024 | Washington Open | Hard | Marcelo Melo | Nathaniel Lammons / Jackson Withrow | 5–7, 3–6 | Loss |
| 2025 | Argentina Open | Clay | Marcelo Melo | Guido Andreozzi / Théo Arribagé | 5–7, 6–4, [7–10] | Loss |
| 2025 | Rio Open | Clay | Marcelo Melo | Jaume Munar / Pedro Martínez | 6–2, 7–5 | Win |
| 2025 | Winston-Salem Open | Hard | Marcelo Melo | Francisco Cabral / Lucas Miedler | 4–6, 6–4, [10–8] | Win |
| Year | Tournament | Level | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Campinas Challenger | Challenger | Clay | Orlando Luz | Miguel Ángel Reyes-Varela / Fernando Romboli | 6–7(2–7), 6–4, [10–8] | Win |
| 2020 | Punta del Este Challenger | Challenger | Clay | Orlando Luz | Juan Manuel Cerúndolo / Thiago Agustín Tirante | 6–4, 6–2 | Win |
| 2020 | Monterrey Challenger | Challenger | Hard | Orlando Luz | Karol Drzewiecki / Gonçalo Oliveira | 7–6(7–5), 4–6, [9–11] | Loss |
| 2020 | Iași Challenger | Challenger | Clay | João Menezes | Treat Huey / Nathaniel Lammons | 6–2, 6–2 | Win |
| 2021 | Concepción Challenger | Challenger | Clay | Orlando Luz | Sergio Galdós / Diego Hidalgo | 7–5, 6–4 | Win |
| 2021 | Tallahassee Challenger | Challenger | Clay | Orlando Luz | Sekou Bangoura / Donald Young | 7–6(7–2), 6–2 | Win |
| 2021 | Cordenons Challenger | Challenger | Clay | Orlando Luz | Sergio Galdós / Renzo Olivo | 6–4, 7–6(7–5) | Win |
| 2021 | Como Challenger | Challenger | Clay | Felipe Meligeni Alves | Luis David Martínez / Andrea Vavassori | 6–7(2–7), 6–4, [10–6] | Win |
| 2021 | Montevideo Challenger | Challenger | Clay | Felipe Meligeni Alves | Ignacio Carou / Luciano Darderi | 6–4, 6–4 | Win |
| 2021 | Campinas Challenger | Challenger | Clay | Felipe Meligeni Alves | Gilbert Klier Jr. / Matheus Pucinelli de Almeida | 6–3, 6–1 | Win |
| 2022 | Bordeaux Challenger | Challenger | Clay | David Vega Hernández | Hugo Nys / Jan Zieliński | 6–4, 6–0 | Win |
| 2023 | Brasília Challenger | Challenger | Hard | Marcelo Demoliner | Nicolás Barrientos / Andre Göransson | 6–7(3–7), 6–4, [9–11] | Loss |
| 2025 | Cancún Challenger | Challenger | Hard | Manuel Guinard | Santiago González / Jean-Julien Rojer | 6–7(2–7), 5–7 | Loss |