Alves was born on 17 April 1983 to Carlos José Alves and Maria Cristina Barbato Alves, who were both professional tennis players. She resides in her hometown
Florianópolis,
Santa Catarina. Alves began playing tennis aged four, along with her older sister Maria Cláudia. Some of the players who practised in that camp are former
world No. 1 player
Gustavo Kuerten,
Marcelo Melo,
André Sá and others. She was coached by her father Carlos and former tennis professional
Thomaz Koch. ==Equipment==