The Open river is the jewel of the crown of South American tennis | ATP Tour

Rio de Janeiro

The Open river is the jewel of the Crown of South American tennis

It is an attraction for ATP stars and serves as a launch ramp for the young talent in the region

February 17, 2025

For more than a decade, the Open Rio presented by Claro has monopolized all the eyes of South American tennis.

The beaten earth tournament marks a long week of tennis in Rio de Janeiro, where many of the great stars of this sport in recent years have been shown, including the Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.

It is the only ATP 500 tournament in South America and the only one also held in Brazil. The tournament has been fundamental in the growth of this sport in this part of the planet, where it has helped boost the races of many South American stars.

In 2025, the Open Rio presented by Claro faces its eleventh edition, as one of the calendar reference tournaments.

Great names, great impact
The ATP 500 tournament has left a great mark in South America, since the Jockey Brazilian club in Rio de Janeiro has welcomed 65,000 spectators every year. The tournament has also received great stars from this sport, such as the old No. 1 of the Nadal world, which won the first edition of the tournament in 2014, in addition to signing the semifinals in 2015 and 2016.

“The first edition of a great tournament as a river, a very important city in the world, and after returning from the injury, always makes victory a little more special,” Nadal warned, after conquering the title in 2014.

In 2022, the Spanish sensation Alcaraz amounted to No. 1 of the PIF ATP Rankings, after being coroned in its first Grand Slam in the US Open. Of course, the first success of the young 18 -year -old player in that historic season occurred in Rio, where he defeated Diego Schwartzman to win in which he was the biggest title of his career at that time. Two years earlier, Murcia had won his first ATP game in the Brazilian beaten land.

Other great players such as the old Top 3 David Ferrer, Dominic Thiem or Casper Ruud have also been present in the first ten years of the Rio Tournament. Ferrer won the title in 2015, while Thiem was crowned in 2017.

Launch ramp for South Americans
Beyond the passage of European Top players, the Open River presented by Claro has established itself as a fundamental event for local talent, registering four of its ten champions of South American origin.

In 2016 it was the Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas who became the first player of the continent to lift the trophy, which would be the biggest title of his career. The Argentine Diego Schwartzman won his only ATP 500 in Rio 2018, while Chilean Cristian Garin did it in 2020.

Recently, the tournament has been a bulwark for names such as Nicolas Jarry, Mariano Navone, Joao Fonseca or Sebastian Baez. The Chilean Jarry arrived in Rio in 2023 outside the Top 100 of the PIF atp Rankings. However, starting from the previous one, it reached the semifinals to return to Top 100 for the first time in three years. From there, I would go to Santiago to win the title, something that would also do in Geneva 2023.

In 2024, there was a record of 20 players from six different countries in South America in the painting, including Navone. The Argentine won his first victory in the tournament and advanced to the final, where he gave up to his compatriot Báez. At 23, Navone jumped to the highest position of his career as No. 29 of the PIF ATP Rankings only four months later.

Finally, is Fonseca’s story. The Brazilian of the #NextGenatp debuted in Rio two seasons ago, with 16 years. In his second participation in 2024, he reached the quarterfinals in the tournament he attended as a young fan every year. Fonseca has since won the Next Gen ATP Finals present by Pif, has defeated a Top 10 like Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open and raised its first ATP Tour crown in Buenos Aires. All eyes point to the local favorite in Rio.

Legends praise him
While the Open Rio present by Claro will continue to be a special scenario for South American tennis, in this edition he will count among his big names with two figures such as Alexander Zverev and Holger Rune.

The old No. 1 of the PIF ATP Rankings Andy Murray never participated in the whipped land of Rio de Janeir In X in 2024: “The way in which fans encourage there is incredible. There is an incredible environment and tennis is part of its sports culture. ”

Outside the track, there are many activities in Rio. Nadal visited the famous Rio Carnival, while Alcaraz enjoyed a helicopter walk through the city, flying over the Christ Redeemer.

“It was the first time that I had the opportunity to enjoy the Rio Carnival and it was an unforgettable experience,” Nadal acknowledged, after his visit in 2015. “There was an incredible positive energy. Everyone singing and dancing, it was fantastic for me to have the opportunity to enjoy this unique experience. ”

Alcaraz remembered his helicopter walk in 2023: “It was the first time he was riding helicopter. At first I was afraid, but it happened to me quickly, ”said Alcaraz. “Seeing the Christ Redeemer from the helicopter was wonderful.”

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Be attentive to the Open Rio presented by Claro, to social networks and the ATP Tour website to closely follow everything that happens in this eleventh edition of the prestigious South American tournament.