Top-ranked Brazilian tennis player accumulates defeats with just two wins in the first four months of 2026
Bia Haddad broke barriers, opened space for new generations of women’s tennis in Brazil and continues being the biggest name in the sport since Maria Esther Bueno. However, today, it is no longer the only strong name.
She shares the attention with two young promises: By Nauhany Silva and Victoria Barros – both 16 years old -, and two old acquaintances from the professional elite: Luisa Stefani, who occupies 10th place in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) doubles ranking, and Laura Pigossicurrently ranked 217th in singles.
Bia is still number 1 in Brazil – currently occupies the 69th position -, but they have been accumulating defeats in recent seasons. In 2026, for example, they have two wins in 13 matches played. The Qatari only beat Mubarak Al-Naimi, in the Doha qualifiers, and the Portuguese Francisca Jorge, in the debut of the Challenger in Oeiras, in Portugal.
While Bia accumulates negative numbers, their compatriots follow the opposite path. Nauhany Silva and Victoria Barros have made history in 2026. With them, for the first time in history, the Brazil has two players in the top 10 of the ITF youth rankings (International Tennis Federation). Victoria is in 8th place and Nauhany is in 10th.
Victoria Barros and Nauhany Silva These are Brazil’s promises in tennis│Gaspar Nóbrega/CBT
The two star, for the first time in 40 years, a Brazilian final at the Banana Bowl – one of the most traditional and important international youth tennis tournaments in the world -, which had Nauhany as champion after a 2-1 victory.
O This feat established her as the first athlete from Brazil to win the tournament since 1991. This year, she had already broken another taboo: she was champion of the Brasil Juniors Cup and put the country at the top after 35 years.
In the same competition, he also won the doubles competition alongside Argentine Sol Larraya. THE The last Brazilian to win in the category was Luisa Stefani, in 2015a year before Nauhany was born.
Luísa Stefani wins the 15th title of her career │ZDL/Disclosure
If in youth Brazil comes strong, when it comes to the professional, Luisa Stefani is a reference. Unlike Bia, she prioritizes doubles competitions and is the best Brazilian in the rankings – she is in the Top 10. Luisa has 15 WTA titles in her career. The last achievement was in February this year, when he won the WTA 1000 in Dubai alongside Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski.
Laura Pigossi, like Bia, has also not been experiencing the best moment in her career. THE second best Brazilian in the world ranking, started 2026 in 201st positionbut the fluctuations at the beginning of the season caused it to fall. However, the place achieved in the W50 semi-final in Burundi made her move up 8 positions and guarantee herself in the Roland Garros qualifiers.
In addition to Victória and Nauhany, the base of Brazilian women’s tennis has another highlight: The Paraná native Eduarda Gomes, aged 13, became the youngest champion of the Roland Garros Junior Seriesan achievement that made her join her compatriots at the Grand Slam in Paris, and was praised on the official Roland Garros page.
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Brazil is also a reference in Paralympic tennis
Someone who has also made a name for herself is Vitória Miranda, 18, from Minas Gerais, a Paralympic tennis player. Had a brilliant 2025 season: won 10 singles titles and 8 doubles titleswith emphasis on victories in singles and doubles at the Australian Open and Roland Garros Júnior.
Vitória Miranda celebrates at Parapan de Jovens Santiago 2025, Chile │Marcello Zambrana/CPB.
Her achievements placed her in first place in the ITF ranking and led to her being chosen as the best young wheelchair tennis player – an award for the 2025 season. This was the first time that a Brazilian woman was awarded the ITF Junior of the Year Award. Currently, Vitória is in 30th place in the adult ITF.
The numbers and achievements of Nauhany, Victória Barros and Vitória Miranda highlight the possible new golden era of Brazilian women’s tennis, in addition to making the year 2026 a turning point for the sport in Brazil, in youth and doubles, waiting for the Brazilians to recover in the singles tournament.
