SP Open São Paulo Brings WTA Tennis Back to Brazil: Free Entry Ends Today, Ground Passes from US$6
BRAZIL · TENNIS
Key Facts
- —What happened Brazil’s highest-level women’s tennis tournament is under way at Parque Villa-Lobos in São Paulo.
- —How big Thirty-two players are in the singles draw, and the 2025 edition drew about 30,000 fans.
- —What it means Top-level women’s tennis is back in Brazil’s biggest city for a second straight September.
- —The catch Free qualifying entry ends today, and from Monday every session needs a paid ticket.
- —Who it affects Anyone in the city can attend, but ticket limits are counted per Brazilian taxpayer number.
- —What comes next The main draw starts Monday, and the singles final is played on Sunday 20 September.
The SP Open São Paulo is halfway through its opening weekend in Brazil, and the free part of it ends today. From Monday, watching the main draw at Parque Villa-Lobos costs money.
The SP Open São Paulo has been running since Saturday at Parque Villa-Lobos, a public park in Brazil’s largest city. Entry to the qualifying rounds has been free, and that window closes tonight.
What is happening at Parque Villa-Lobos
The tournament is the SP Open and it sits at the WTA 250 level. WTA stands for Women’s Tennis Association, the tour that runs professional women’s tennis.
The 250 in the name refers to the ranking points the champion takes home. It is the tour’s entry-level tier, a step below the big televised events.
This is only the second edition. The first one ran in 2025 and drew about 30,000 people across nine days.
Play runs from 12 to 20 September on outdoor hard courts. The singles draw holds 32 players, with 16 doubles teams alongside them.
The free weekend ends today
Qualifying began on Saturday and finishes today, Sunday 13 September. Entry to those matches is free, with a reservation through the ticketing company Eventim.
Qualifying is the small knockout that decides the last few main-draw places. The tennis is real, the crowds are thin, and the courts are close.
From Monday that free window is gone. Every session from 14 September onwards needs a paid ticket.
Ground passes are sold only for 14 to 20 September. The cheapest of them fall on Friday to Sunday, not on weekdays.
What a ground pass buys you
A ground pass is general admission to the site. It lets you walk the outside courts and watch from standing room.
It does not include a seat inside the main arena. Listings show a large screen on the grounds that carries the centre-court match.
The tournament FAQ prices ground passes at R$30 (about US$6) from Friday to Sunday. Monday to Thursday they cost R$50 (about US$10).
One pass covers the whole day, even on days with two sessions. Currency conversions use the 13 September 2026 rate of 5.11 reais to the US dollar.
Who is playing, and who is not
Leylah Fernandez of Canada is the top seed this year. Paula Badosa of Spain, a former world number two, is also in the draw.
Luisa Stefani is the Brazilian name to watch. She won the doubles title here in 2025 with Hungary’s Tímea Babos.
Beatriz Haddad Maia, a former world top-10 player, is not competing. She announced in August that she is stepping away from the tour for the rest of 2026.
She said the decision was about her own head, not her results. The WTA reported that she plans to return in 2027 using a protected ranking.
Brazilian tennis has had a loud year on the men’s side too. Our report on João Fonseca and the money flowing into the sport covers that shift.
How to reach the park
Parque Villa-Lobos sits in Alto de Pinheiros, in the western half of the city. It is a free public park, with running paths, playgrounds and a lot of shade.
The easiest way in is by train. Villa Lobos-Jaguaré station, on Line 9-Esmeralda of the São Paulo commuter rail network, sits beside the park.
There is no official parking for the tournament. Organisers point fans towards public transport and ride-hailing apps instead.
Give yourself extra time on weekday evenings. Marginal Pinheiros, the motorway along the river, backs up badly at rush hour.
Buying a ticket as a visitor
Tickets are sold through Eventim Brasil, the same platform used for concerts. You buy online and show the ticket on your phone at the gate.
Listings cap purchases at four tickets per session. The site also applies a wider ceiling of 22 tickets per CPF.
CPF is Brazil’s individual taxpayer number, and most buyers enter it at checkout. Foreign visitors do not need one.
The tournament FAQ carries an international sales section. Without a CPF, you pick your country at sign-up and enter your passport number.
What to expect once you are inside
The order of play is released only the night before. You cannot buy a ticket for a named player in advance.
That is normal for knockout tennis, and it cuts both ways. A R$30 (about US$6) weekend pass can land you a big name on a small court.
The site has food stalls, sponsor stands and seating in the open air. It is a park in a hot city, so bring water, sunscreen and a hat.
The singles final is on Sunday 20 September. If you can only come once, the closing weekend is the safer pick.
The city’s sporting calendar does not stop here. Our São Paulo Grand Prix guide covers the next big ticket at Interlagos.
More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the SP Open in São Paulo, Brazil?
It runs from 12 to 20 September 2026 at Parque Villa-Lobos, with the singles final on Sunday 20 September.
Is the SP Open free to attend?
Only the qualifying rounds on 12 and 13 September were free, and a reservation was needed. Every main-draw session from Monday needs a paid ticket.
How much is a ground pass at the SP Open?
Ground passes cost R$30 (about US$6) from Friday to Sunday, and R$50 (about US$10) from Monday to Thursday.
Is Beatriz Haddad Maia playing in São Paulo?
No. She announced in August 2026 that she is away from the tour for the rest of the season. The WTA says she plans to return in 2027.
Sources: SP Open official site (spopenwta.com.br), Eventim Brasil, WTA Tennis (wtatennis.com), Portal Pinheiros, Veja SP; see https://spopenwta.com.br/sobre/o-sp-open/ and https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4556449/haddad-maia-announces-break-from-tennis-it-hasnt-been-easy
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