SP Open

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SP Open
Current event 2025 SP Open
WTA Tour
Founded2025
Editions1
LocationSão Paulo
Brazil
VenueParque Villa-Lobos
CategoryWTA 250
SurfaceHard
Draw32S / 24Q / 16D
Prize money$275,094
Websitespopenwta.com.br
Current champions (2025)
SinglesFrance Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah
DoublesHungary Tímea Babos
Brazil Luisa Stefani

The SP Open, also known as the São Paulo Open and WTA 250 SP Open,[1] is a professional women's tennis tournament that debuted in 2025 as part of the WTA 250 series. It is held in São Paulo, Brazil, at the Parque Villa-Lobos on outdoor hardcourts in September.[2] The tournament marks the return of a WTA–level event to São Paulo since 2000 when the Brasil Open was last held [1] and Brazil in general since 2016, when the Rio Open and the Brasil Tennis Cup were last held.[3][4][5] It replaced the Jasmin Open in Monastir on the WTA tournaments calendar[1] and was the first professional tennis tournament organized at the Villa-Lobos Park since the Aberto de São Paulo in 2014.

Facade of the entrance to the Villa-Lobos Park

The tournament will happen from 2025 through at least 2027 and including night sessions. Backed by Mubadala and IMG, the event aims to promote South American women’s tennis. Organizers plan infrastructure improvements and affordable ticket pricing to encourage public attendance.[6]

The SP Open is the highest–level women's tennis professional tour tournament in Brazil, and one of the three tournaments outside of the ITF Women's circuit, alongside the MundoTenis Open and the Rio Ladies Open.

Although the SP Open is currently a WTA 250, the organizers have stated they plan to have its level upgraded in the future to become a WTA 500 tournament.[7][8]

History

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Background

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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.[4][5][9] 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.[5][10] The absence of WTA events in Brazil since 2016 prompted efforts by organizers, particularly IMM,[11] the company behind the Rio Open, to bring professional women's tennis back to the country.[4][12]

In 2023, Florianópolis hosted a WTA 125 event at the Super9 Tennis Park called MundoTenis Open.[13] In 2024, the WTA confirmed that two additional WTA 125 tournaments would be held in Brazil: one in São Paulo at the Esporte Clube Pinheiros from October 21 to 27 (which was cancelled last minute due to lack of sponsorships[14][15]), and the second edition of the MundoTenis Open.[16] These events set the stage for the announcement of the higher-tier WTA 250 SP Open in 2025.

Announcement and organization

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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.[4][12][17][18] The tournament would be played on hard courts, with the qualifying rounds scheduled for September 6 and 7, and the main draw from September 8 to 14.[4][12][19] The event would feature a 32-player singles main draw, a 24-player qualifying draw, and a 16-team doubles draw.[4][12]

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.[4][12] 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 SP Open.[4][12][17] The announcement was widely covered by Brazilian media, highlighting the event's significance for tennis in the region.[5][10][9][19]

Significance and impact

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The SP Open is the first WTA 250 tournament in Brazil since 2016, filling a gap in the country's professional tennis calendar.[4][5][9] It is also São Paulo's most significant women's tennis event since 2000, when the city last hosted a comparable tournament.[5][12] The event was expected to attract top players, including Brazilian star Beatriz Haddad Maia, offering her a chance to compete on home soil.[19][17]

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.[12][5] The choice of Parque Villa-Lobos, one of the city's largest green spaces, enhanced the event's appeal, providing a scenic backdrop for fans and players.[12][10] The tournament was 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.[12][9]

Tournament details

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  • 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)

Courts

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The SP Open feature pre-existing courts that were already in use by the Villa-Lobos park visitors, that got renovated to be used by the tournament and later on by the general public.[20]

They are the three training courts, courts one, two and three and also the three courts used for playing, courts one and two and the Maria Esther Bueno center court which has a seating capacity of 2.500[20] and honors tennis hall of famer Maria Esther Bueno[21], the most successful Brazilian tennis player in history.[22][23]

All courts are painted in navy blue and purple colors.[24]

Events

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Past finals

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Singles

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Year Champion Runner-up Score
2025 France Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah Indonesia Janice Tjen 6–3, 6–4

Doubles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
2025 Hungary Tímea Babos
Brazil Luisa Stefani		 Brazil Ingrid Martins
Brazil Laura Pigossi		 4–6, 6–3, [10–4]

Trophies

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Designed by the jeweler Ara Vartanian, the SP Open trophy is inspired by the “Marco Zero”, the geographical and symbolic heart of the city of São Paulo. To build the trophy, it took 4 months of work from a team of 7 people. The trophy weights 10KG and its dimensions are 53 cm x 53 cm x 25 cm.[25]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Sao Paulo returns to the Hologic WTA Tour for the first time in 25 years". Women's Tennis Association. 30 April 2025.
  2. ^ "SP Open 2025 Overview | WTA Official". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  3. ^ "SP Open marca o retorno do circuito da WTA ao Brasil". UOL Tenis Brasil (in Portuguese). 30 April 2025.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Dalcim, José Nilton (2025-05-06). "SP Open pode ter rodada noturna e está garantido até 2027". TenisBrasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  7. ^ "SP Open Set to Elevate: New WTA 250 Event in São Paulo Aims for WTA 500 Status". www.footboom1.com. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  8. ^ "Saque e Voleio: Na mira do SP Open: quadras maiores, nova data e upgrade para WTA 500". UOL (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-09-15. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  9. ^ a b c d "Brasil terá torneio WTA pela primeira vez desde 2016". GaúchaZH (in Portuguese). 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  10. ^ a b c "São Paulo terá torneio WTA 250 em setembro de 2025". GE Globo (in Portuguese). 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  11. ^ "SP Open marca o retorno de São Paulo ao calendário oficial da WTA". Confederação brasileira de tênis. 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ Dalcim, José Nilton (2024-09-24). "Brasil fica sem o WTA 125 que aconteceria em São Paulo". TenisBrasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  15. ^ "Torneio de tênis feminino em São Paulo 'some' do calendário da WTA e pode ser cancelado". ESPN.com (in Portuguese). 2024-09-23. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  16. ^ "WTA confirma torneios 125 em São Paulo e Floripa". TenisBrasil (in Portuguese). 2024-08-02. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Tênis: São Paulo sedia novo torneio feminino da WTA em setembro". Olympics.com (in Portuguese). 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ a b "Veja os bastidores das obras no Villa-Lobos para o SP Open". Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  21. ^ Assessoria, I. M. M. (2025-09-06). "Quadra principal do SP Open recebe o nome de Maria Esther Bueno". SP Open WTA (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  22. ^ Kawana, Suely (2025-09-05). "Quadra central do SP Open leva nome de Maria Esther Bueno". TenisBrasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  23. ^ "Quadra central do SP Open terá o nome de Maria Esther Bueno - 05/09/2025 - UOL Esporte". www.uol.com.br. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  24. ^ "Quadras do SP Open, no Parque Villa-Lobos, vão ter cores azul e roxo - 20/08/2025 - UOL Esporte". www.uol.com.br. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  25. ^ "Inspirado no marco zero de São Paulo, troféu do SP Open foi criado pelo joalheiro Ara Vartanian | Moda". Vogue (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
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