Sao Paulo set to host WTA event after 25 years
Brazil's long women's tennis drought will end this September when Sao Paulo hosts a WTA tournament for the first time since the millennium, as the women's tour announced the city's return after a 25-year absence.
The WTA 250 SP Open, scheduled for the week of September 8, replaces Tunisia's Jasmin Open in Monastir and will feature a 32-player singles draw and 16-team doubles competition on outdoor hard courts.
Women's tennis fans in Brazil's largest city have waited since 2000 for the tour's return, when Hungary's Rita Kuti-Kis claimed the singles crown at the Brasil Open while Argentina's Laura Montalvo and Paola Suarez captured the doubles title.
READ | Madrid Open 2025: Sabalenka eases past Kostyuk to set up semifinal against Svitolina
The South American addition comes during a vibrant 2025 season that has already produced 15 different singles champions across WTA 250, 500 and 1000 events, highlighted by Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva becoming the youngest-ever WTA 1000 tournament winner.
This competitive drama, coupled with the WTA's recent brand refresh, has sparked significant audience growth, with social media followers increasing 25 per cent year-on-year through March and video views surging 163 per cent in the first quarter, the WTA said.
Related Topics
WTA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
21 hours ago
- News18
Alisson Backs Ancelotti: His Influence On Brazil Will Shine By World Cup
Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker has mentioned that the influence of new manager Carlo Ancelotti might not be fully evident until the FIFA World Cup next year. Ancelotti, appointed last month, led his first match on Thursday, where Brazil had a goalless draw against Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier in Guayaquil. Alisson noted that Ancelotti is already having an impact on the squad but emphasized that the long-term effects of his management will take time to unfold, reports Xinhua. 'We know that football is a process and we can't expect all the problems to be resolved overnight," the Liverpool player told a news conference in Sao Paulo, where the team is training ahead of next Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Paraguay at Corinthians Arena. Alisson stated that the former Real Madrid boss had already improved the team's defensive cohesion and created a relaxed atmosphere in the dressing room. He added that the 65-year-old's winning mentality is noticeable in training sessions and team meetings. 'Ancelotti contributes in a lot of ways, it's evident just by his presence," he said. 'He's a manager with a long history in football and he carries that wherever he goes. It's no different with the national team." Meanwhile, Alisson mentioned the possibility of returning to his homeland to play for former club Internacional when his Liverpool contract expires in 2027. 'My immediate goal is to be very focused on the present, especially with the World Cup approaching," the 32-year-old said. 'I've spoken with some players who have already gone through the process of returning to Brazil and some had positive experiences while others didn't." Currently, Brazil sits fourth in the South American qualifying group, with three matches remaining. The team is eager to secure a strong finish as they prepare for the global tournament next year.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
How are the 2026 World Cup contenders shaping up?
The 2026 World Cup in North America will be the first to feature 48 teams but an expanded tournament does not necessarily mean a wider field of genuine contenders to succeed Lionel Messi's Argentina as champions. Only eight countries have won the World Cup in 22 editions up to the most recent tournament in Qatar, when Argentina defeated France on penalties in an epic final. That was their third title, a tally bettered only by Brazil with their record five crowns, and Germany and Italy on four each. With a year still to go until kick-off in the United States, Canada and Mexico, there remain plenty of unknowns, not least with European qualifying barely having begun. Of the eight previous World Cups held on the American continent, seven have been won by a South American team. There was a European winner in Brazil in 2014, when Germany edged Argentina in the final. However Argentina, who top the FIFA world rankings, will be the team to beat in 2026, even if no country has retained the trophy since Brazil in 1962. As well as being the champions, they have won the last two editions of the Copa America, including last year in the USA. In March they became the first South American team to secure qualification. Most of the 2022 team remains under coach Lionel Scaloni, and it looks like Messi who will turn 39 during the competition will have a role to play. "He is keen to play at the World Cup and everyone is keen to see him play," Scaloni said recently. Brazil won the last World Cup in the United States in 1994 but are mired in crisis and even Carlo Ancelotti may struggle to revive their fortunes. "I have a big job ahead of me and have great hope that Brazil will become champions again," Ancelotti said after being presented as coach last month. "The only goal is to win the 2026 World Cup." Their inconsistent form in qualifying cost former coach Dorival Junior his job, and Ancelotti needs Raphinha and Vinicius Junior to step up. Ancelotti started with a goalless draw in Ecuador on Thursday. If there is to be a European winner then Spain are the obvious candidates. They will be bidding to repeat their achievement of 2010, when they won the World Cup off the back of a European Championship triumph. Luis de la Fuente's team, who start qualifying in September, boast the most exciting teenager in world football in Lamine Yamal. He will turn 19 during the World Cup. France have been to the last two finals, and four of the last seven. This will be the last tournament for Didier Deschamps before he steps down after 14 years in charge, and Kylian Mbappe will be gunning for a second World Cup winner's medal. England's desperation to win a first title since 1966 led to the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as coach. "I know that there are some trophies missing... and, of course, I want to help to make it happen," the German said. Runners-up at the last two Euros, and World Cup semi-finalists in 2018, England will look to Jude Bellingham to lead their charge. It could also be Harry Kane's last chance to win an international trophy, as he will be almost 33. Germany have not gone beyond the group stage since winning in 2014 but Julian Nagelsmann's side appear on the up and the key could be getting Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala to work together. Italy look limited and just want to be there having missed the last two World Cups. "We need to qualify because it's absolutely crucial for us," admitted coach Luciano Spalletti. If there is to be a first-time winner then three-time runners-up the Netherlands cannot be dismissed, although Portugal perhaps have the better chance. As ever the question will be whether the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo expected to appear at a record sixth World Cup at the age of 41 could hold back an exciting team. The prospect of a first triumph for a host since France in 1998 seems non-existent. Mauricio Pochettino is struggling to make his mark on the United States, having set the team the target of winning the competition when he was appointed. Mexico are eyeing the quarter-finals, which would match their previous best showing, while for Canada just getting out of their group would be a considerable achievement. as/lp/gj
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Coco Gauff, new French Open champion, takes home 6.25% more prize money than last year's winner Iga Swiatek
Coco Gauff's incredible rise at the top of women's tennis continued as she added a second Grand Slam title to her name, with a memorable win over top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the Roland Garros final. Gauff is in for a windfall, not just in terms of rankings points as she improves on her semifinal appearance in 2024, but also in prize money. Her 6-7 6-2 6-4 come-from-behind victory over world number one Sabalenka means 20-year-old Gauff is set to receive a winner's cheque of a whopping 2.550 million euros. The American sensation was one of the highest-paid female athletes in the world in 2024, and her purse will continue to grow following a strong start to the season in the grand slams. Gauff's total earnings from her run in Paris earns her 150,000 euros more than what Iga Swiatek received for winning this tournament in 2024. The total prize pool for the entirety of the French Open, across both singles draws and all the doubles and juniors events, is 56.352 million euros, marking a 5.37% increase from 2024. In the singles alone, Gauff's prize money indicates a 6.25% increase on Swiatek's earning of 2.4 million euros in 2024. While Sabalenka couldn't get her hands on a French Open title despite upsetting Iga Swiatek in the semifinal, she won't be too disappointed with the bank bonus she too is receiving, taking home 1.275 million euros herself. A career-best result in Paris for the Belarusian, but back to the drawing board after falling short both at the Australian Open and now on Court Phillipe Chartrier. Winner: EUR 2,550,000 Runner-up: EUR 1,275,000 Semi-finalists: EUR 690,000 Meanwhile, the semi-finalists received 690,000 euros, with Swiatek and French local breakthrough star Lois Boisson receiving that amount. A life-changing amount of money for Boisson, who managed to go all the way to the semifinals in her first ever main draw appearance at any Grand Slam tournament, and that coming at her home slam. Nothing to sniff at for the American Gauff, who takes home the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, 2000 WTA ranking points to try and compete for the number one title towards the end of this season, and a hefty chunk of the prize money she will be able to call her own.
