Behind the Wimbledon final: the routine that led Luisa Stefani to the decision
Luisa Stefani's unprecedented qualification for the Wimbledon women's doubles final is the result of work that goes far beyond hours on the court. Responsible for monitoring the Brazilian since 2022, physiotherapist Ricardo Takahashi states that the tennis player's discipline is one of the pillars of her historic campaign in the British Grand Slam.
"Luisa is very professional. She is one of the athletes I had the opportunity to work with who is most dedicated not only to training, but also to rest, nutrition and investment in a complete team. She deserves everything she is achieving", says Takahashi.
According to the expert, the routine during tournaments involves detailed planning before and after each training session or match.
"When we accompany Luisa, we do mobility and muscle activation work before she enters the court, always in conjunction with physical preparation. After training and games, we begin the entire recovery process, with joint mobilization, muscle release and other resources so that she has the best conditions to compete again the next day", he explains.
Takahashi also participated in Stefani's recovery after the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee, suffered during the 2021 US Open. According to him, her return to the courts was only possible because all stages of rehabilitation were respected.
"From the beginning, I made it clear that we needed to trust the process. The protocol provided for around a year of recovery after the surgery, without anticipating her return to the court. We knew the importance of respecting this deadline so that she could return to competing at a high level", she recalls.
The planning paid off. Since returning to the circuit, Luisa Stefani won the mixed doubles title at the 2023 Australian Open and, in 2026 alone, she has already won three tournaments alongside Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski. Now, he is competing in the Wimbledon final for the first time and has already secured fourth place in the world doubles ranking, maintaining his chances of taking the lead in the rankings alongside his partner.
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Source: CNN