The Itajaí Open will officially open the 2026 Challenger season in Brazil and will also be the first ATP Challenger 75 event held on the continent that year. The tournament is scheduled to take place from January 19 to 25 on the clay courts of the Itamirim Clube de Campo in Itajaí, Santa Catarina, and has already confirmed seven of the top eight Brazilian players in the ATP rankings for the main draw.

With total prize money of US$107,000 and 75 ATP ranking points awarded to the champion, the event will feature Thiago Monteiro, João Lucas Reis, Thiago Wild, Felipe Meligeni, Pedro Boscardin, Matheus Pucinelli and Gustavo Heide. Taiwan’s Chun-Hsin Tseng, currently ranked world No. 124, leads the field as the top seed. Romania’s Gabi Adrian Boitan, ranked No. 326, is the final direct entry into the main draw.

Brazilian representation could grow even further, with six local players competing in the qualifying rounds, which offer six available spots in the main draw. In addition, tournament organizers will award three wild cards.

Tournament director Danilo Marcelino highlighted the strength of the field and the significance of the event on the calendar. “Having almost the entire Brazilian tennis elite competing in Itajaí shows the tournament’s importance right in its first edition. It’s a Challenger that is born big, with strong infrastructure, excellent organization and a very competitive draw,” he said.

The president of the Santa Catarina Tennis Federation, Germano Adolfo Buss, emphasized the impact of the event for the state. “The Itajaí Open confirms Santa Catarina as a national reference in tennis. Hosting a Challenger of this level is only possible with outstanding facilities like those at the Itamirim Clube de Campo and through the joint efforts of the FCT, CBT, the City of Itajaí and Instituto Sports,” Buss stated.

Brazilian Tennis Confederation president Alexandre Farias also underlined the positive moment for Brazilian tennis. “A draw featuring seven of the country’s top eight players highlights the relevance of this tournament and the strong phase Brazilian tennis is experiencing. Events like this add value for the athletes, bring fans closer to high-performance tennis and strengthen Brazil’s position as an increasingly important stage on the professional circuit,” he said.

The inaugural Itajaí Open is supported by Brazil’s Ministry of Sports through the Sports Incentive Law and is co-sponsored by iFood Benefícios, Vivara, Stella Artois Pure Gold, Philco, Azul Linhas Aéreas (official airline), Costa do Sauípe – Parques e Resorts, and INNI Sports (official ball and apparel). The tournament also receives support from Aberje, the Brazilian Tennis Confederation and the Santa Catarina Tennis Federation.

Part of the ATP Challenger Tour calendar, the event is organized by Instituto Sports and marks a major addition to the international tennis schedule in South America.