SP Open
| SP Open | |
|---|---|
| Tournament information | |
| Founded | 2025 |
| Location | São Paulo Brazil |
| Venue | Parque Villa-Lobos |
| Category | WTA 250 |
| Surface | Hard |
| Draw | 32S / 24Q / 16D.RUN |
The SP Open, also known as the São Paulo Open and WTA 250 SP Open[1], is a professional women's tennis tournament scheduled to debut in 2025 as part of the WTA 250 series. It will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, at the Parque Villa-Lobos on hard courts from September 6 to 14, 2025. The tournament marks the return of a WTA-level event to Brazil since 2016, when the Rio Open and the Brasil Tennis Cup were last held.[2][3]
This tournament will replace the Jasmin Open in Monastir.[4]
History
[edit]Background
[edit]Brazil has a history of hosting WTA tournaments, with events like the Rio Open, which included both men's and women's draws from 2014 to 2016, and the Brasil Tennis Cup in Florianópolis, held from 2013 to 2016.[2][3][5] São Paulo last hosted a significant women's tennis event in 2000, making the SP Open the city's first WTA tournament in 25 years.[3][6] The absence of WTA events in Brazil since 2016 prompted efforts by organizers, particularly IMM, the company behind the Rio Open, to bring professional women's tennis back to the country.[2][7]
In 2023, Florianópolis hosted a WTA 125 event at the Super9 Tennis Park caled MundoTenis Open , a lower-tier tournament compared to WTA 250 events.[8] In 2024, the WTA confirmed two additional WTA 125 tournaments in Brazil: one in São Paulo at the Esporte Clube Pinheiros from October 21 to 27 (which at the last minute ended up not being organized, due to lack of sponserships), and the second edition of the one in Florianópolis at the Super9 Tennis Park.[9] These events set the stage for the announcement of the higher-tier WTA 250 SP Open in 2025.
Announcement and Organization
[edit]On April 30, 2025, IMM, in partnership with the Instituto Carioca de Tênis (ICT), announced the SP Open, a WTA 250 tournament to be held at Parque Villa-Lobos in São Paulo from September 6 to 14, 2025.[2][7][10][11] The tournament will be played on hard courts, with the qualifying rounds scheduled for September 6 and 7, and the main draw from September 8 to 14.[2][7][12] The event will feature a 32-player singles main draw, a 24-player qualifying draw, and a 16-team doubles draw.[2][7]
The tournament's slot in the WTA calendar, immediately following the US Open, was secured by leasing a September date owned by IMG and Mubadala Capital.[2][7] IMM, known for organizing the Rio Open, a prominent ATP 500 event, leveraged its experience and the ICT's support, which includes securing funding through incentive laws, to establish the São Paulo Open.[2][7][10] The announcement was widely covered by Brazilian media, highlighting the event's significance for tennis in the region.[3][6][5][12]
Significance and Impact
[edit]The SP Open is the first WTA 250 tournament in Brazil since 2016, filling a gap in the country's professional tennis calendar.[2][3][5] It is also São Paulo's most significant women's tennis event since 2000, when the city last hosted a comparable tournament.[3][7] The event is expected to attract top players, including Brazilian star Beatriz Haddad Maia, offering her a chance to compete on home soil.[12][10]
Local authorities, including São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes, emphasized the tournament's economic and social benefits, such as job creation, increased tax revenue, and the promotion of tennis among young athletes.[7][3] The choice of Parque Villa-Lobos, one of the city's largest green spaces, enhances the event's appeal, providing a scenic backdrop for fans and players.[7][6] The tournament is anticipated to stimulate the growth of women's tennis in Brazil, which has been described as currently underdeveloped, and to inspire new generations of players.[7][5]
Tournament Details
[edit]- Dates: September 6–14, 2025 (Qualifying: September 6–7; Main Draw: September 8–14)
- Venue: Parque Villa-Lobos, São Paulo, Brazil
- Surface: Hard
- Draw: 32 singles, 24 qualifying, 16 doubles
- Category: WTA 250
- Organizers: IMM, in partnership with Instituto Carioca de Tênis (ICT)
References
[edit]- ^ "SP Open 2025 Overview | WTA Official". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "WTA 250 no Brasil é confirmado para São Paulo". UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Brasil terá torneio WTA 250 em São Paulo em setembro de 2025". O Globo (in Portuguese). 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ "Sao Paulo returns to the Hologic WTA Tour for the first time in 25 years". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ a b c d "Brasil terá torneio WTA pela primeira vez desde 2016". GaúchaZH (in Portuguese). 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ a b c "São Paulo terá torneio WTA 250 em setembro de 2025". GE Globo (in Portuguese). 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "SP Open marca o retorno do circuito da WTA ao Brasil". TenisBrasil (in Portuguese). 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ "Saque e Voleio: Brasil terá WTA 125 em Floripa, mas Bia Haddad não deve jogar". UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). 2023-08-08. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ "WTA confirma torneios 125 em São Paulo e Floripa". TenisBrasil (in Portuguese). 2024-08-02. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ a b c "São Paulo terá torneio WTA 250 organizado por empresa que cuida do Rio Open". ESPN Brasil (in Portuguese). 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ "Tênis: São Paulo sedia novo torneio feminino da WTA em setembro". Olympics.com (in Portuguese). 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ a b c "Brasil voltará a ter um WTA 250 com o São Paulo Open em setembro". O Tempo (in Portuguese). 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-04-30.