South American telecommunications company Claro has reached a deal to become the title sponsor of the inaugural Rio Open tennis event.
The Rio Open will feature as part of the men’s ATP World Tour 500 and women’s WTA International schedules – the only simultaneous event on both tour’s calendars in South America. It will take place from February 15-23 next year at the Brazilian Jockey Club in Rio de Janeiro.
The event will also have its telecommunications infrastructure provided by Embratel, a fellow subsidiary of Claro’s parent company America Movil. Embratel is a sponsor of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the telecommunications category.
Rio has replaced the US city of Memphis as a destination on the ATP World Tour 500 – the third highest tier of tournaments in men’s tennis behind the four annual grand slams and the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 series.
The tournament will receive significant broadcast exposure with four matches set to air daily on Brazilian pay-television channel SporTV, while ATP Media is set to distribute the event to more than 50 countries.
Organisers said Peugeot, Correios, Raizen, Itau, Rolex, Asics, Xerox, Head, Corona and Universidade Estacio de Sa will also sponsor the tournament for which world No.1 Rafael Nadal and No.3, David Ferrer, have already confirmed their participation.