TENN360 | THE FAN'S GUIDE TO THE TOUR
tennis is more than the score.
SP OPEN
Tour
WTA
Date of event
13-19 Sep 2027
Location
Sao Paulo
Surface
Hard outdoor
Website
Singles Title
K Quevedo
Doubles Title
T Babos/L Stefani
Level
250
TENN360 INSIGHT:
There is something rather exciting about watching a tournament being born.
The SP Open brought WTA tennis back to São Paulo after a 25-year absence, and instead of hiding itself away in a traditional tennis complex, it has made the Parque Villa-Lobos part of the experience. The result is less "tennis tournament dropped into a city" and more tennis day out in São Paulo.
There is a proper WTA 250 happening, but around it you'll find food, restaurants, bars, brand experiences and plenty of reasons for non-tennis people to come along too.
It is young, ambitious and still finding its identity.
Which, frankly, makes it rather fun to watch.
The Quadra Central Maria Esther Bueno is where I'd head if you want the full tournament experience.
But I'd look for a side-on seat close to the court, rather than automatically choosing the most expensive position.
There is a lovely advantage to a relatively compact tournament like the SP Open: you don't need to be miles away from the action. The atmosphere from the crowd can be particularly good when Brazilian players are on court, and the first edition showed just how enthusiastically the home crowd got behind them.
If you have the option of a fundo de quadra or a side position, I'd personally take the side.
You can see the geometry of the points much better, and you get a proper appreciation of how quickly these women are moving.
Then, when you have had enough of the main court, go exploring.
The whole point of the SP Open is that the tennis doesn't exist in isolation.
Good.
The SP Open has made player interaction part of its identity rather than treating it as something that happens behind closed doors.
The first edition included open practice sessions, player activities and opportunities for fans to get closer to the athletes, and the tournament continues to promote experiences both on and off court.
The setting helps too.
A tournament built inside a public park simply feels more open than an enormous, heavily enclosed tennis complex.
So if seeing players practising or getting involved in fan activities is important to you, keep an eye on the daily programme.
And bring that autograph pen.
You never know.
I'd go if you like new tournaments with a sense of occasion.
This is particularly good for Brazilian tennis fans, naturally, but you don't need to be Brazilian to enjoy the atmosphere. The tournament is deliberately trying to create something bigger than a tennis competition, with food, entertainment, interactive areas and activities around the courts.
I'd also recommend it if you are travelling with someone who is only moderately interested in tennis.
You can watch world-class players while they disappear for half an hour and find a restaurant.
Everyone wins.
And if you enjoy watching the women's game grow in places where it hasn't had a major WTA presence for years, this is an especially nice tournament to support.
I'd arrive early and don't just go straight to your seat.
The tournament itself recommends arriving with time to explore the complex, and that is good advice. There is an interactive area with restaurants, food trucks, a bar and plenty of other things happening around the tennis.
I'd also keep an eye on the schedule rather than becoming obsessed with one particular player.
The order of play is only released shortly before the matches, so you can't simply buy a ticket expecting to see one specific player. Your ticket is for the session, and the matches within it can change.
And here's my favourite bit of advice: go and watch the qualifying if you can.
Qualifying is where the tournament starts to feel less like a finished product and more like you are watching players fight their way into the big show.
Sometimes those are the matches you remember.
This is outdoor hard-court tennis in São Paulo, and September can bring a mixture of sunshine, warmth and the occasional reminder that Brazilian weather has never signed a contract promising consistency.
The central court is outdoors, so for daytime sessions I'd come prepared for sun even if the forecast looks harmless when you leave your hotel.
Hat. Sunglasses. Sunscreen.
And water.
The good news is that the tournament's schedule gives you some later sessions during the earlier rounds, so if you're not a fan of sitting in direct afternoon sun, an evening session can be the clever choice.
Basically, don't make your seating decision based solely on whether you can see the baseline.
Check whether the sun can see you.
The SP Open is held at Parque Villa-Lobos in Alto de Pinheiros, in the western part of São Paulo.
The tournament does not have official spectator parking, and organisers recommend using public transport, taxis or ride-hailing services instead. The closest event entrance is Gate 6 on Avenida Arruda Botelho.
That is actually quite useful information to know before you go, because arriving with the assumption that you'll simply park at the tournament and wander in is not going to end well.
I'd use public transport or a car service and give yourself plenty of time.
Once you're inside, though, the park setting is part of the charm.
You're not just arriving at a car park with a tennis stadium attached.
I'd skip it if you're looking for the scale and history of a major established tournament.
The SP Open is new. It doesn't have the decades of traditions, famous courts and accumulated mythology of Wimbledon or the US Open.
And if you want to know exactly which player you'll see before buying your ticket, this isn't ideal either. The tournament's knockout format means the order of play is only confirmed close to the session, and even the player entry list can change before the event.
I'd also skip it if your idea of tennis heaven is silence, shade and absolutely nothing happening except the match.
There is quite a lot happening here.
Power in Numbers
32
Single Draws
2,500
Centre court seat
1
Courts