The nanostructure was obtained in a duplex stainless steel (DSS) by means of equal channel angular pressing. The mechanical properties were characterized by uniaxial tensile tests, while the microstructure was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was shown that the yield strength in a deformed nanostructure increased significantly from 402 MPa to 1461 MPa as compared to its coarse-grained counterpart. In contrast, the uniform elongation decreased significant to only 2% together with elongation to failure of 9.8%, much lower than those of 25.4% and 42.6%. After annealing at 700 degrees C for 10 minute, however, uniform elongation increases to 5.3% with the yield strength of 1200 MPa. TEM observation exhibited that deformation twins prevail in the austenite phase whereas the dislocations of high density present in ferrite. The plastic behavior in both phases was analyzed based on the deformation twinning and the presence of dislocation. Finally, the effect of the microstructure on mechanical properties was discussed.