Central court will have the name of the greatest Brazilian tennis player of all time; Tournament will be played between September 6 and 14, in a complex set up in Villa-Lobos Park in São Paulo
Othe WTA of the largest city in the Americas that takes place in São Paulo between September 6 and 14, at Villa Lobos Park, pays a special tribute to the largest Brazilian tennis player of all time, Maria Esther Bueno. Throughout the tournament, the public can closely see the statue in bronze of the legendary athlete, which will be exposed in the main arena. In addition to the statue’s exhibition, the central court will name Maria Esther Bueno, reinforcing the legacy of the former tennis player and following the tradition of honoring the big names Brazilian tennis, as the central court of the Open River is called Quadra Guga Kuerten. The ceremony that will name the It will be on Saturday, the 6th, at the opening of the event, before the first match of Qualifying.
Already on Tuesday, before the final match of the night round, Maria Esther Bueno will once again be honored, in a ceremony that will be attended by Brazilian Top 100 tennis players participating in SP Open and those who had successful careers thanks to the queen’s pioneering. “SP Open is the realization of a dream. The dream of having an important women’s tennis tournament in Brazil. But that was only possible because before we existed Maria Ester Bueno. Example of athlete, female pioneering, she is still a source of inspiration. So it is a great pride reverence her, and transmit her important legacy to new generations.
The sculpture was created by artist Celina Kihel Lara Leite Ribeiro and inaugurated in March 2000, at a ceremony held at the Harmony Tennis Society and was at the headquarters of the Paulista Tennis Federation and will be open to the public for the first time. Made of bronze, based on marble, the piece weighs about 190 kg and measures 2.37 m high. Inspired by photographic records of the championships played by Maria Esther, the work portrays the strength and elegance that marked its trajectory.
Conquests of Maria Esther Bueno
Maria Esther Bueno won 19 Grand Slam titles, 7 in simple, 11 in pairs and 1 in mixed pairs, and reached the number 1 post in the world ranking in 1959.
– Simple: 3 times champion of Wimbledon (1959, 1960, 1964) and 4 times from US Open (1959, 1963, 1964, 1966).
-Duplas: Titles on the four Grand Slams, including 5 wimbedon and 4 achievements in US Open.
Mixed Duplas: Champion of Roland Garros in 1960.
-Tennis Fame Hall Member, Maria Esther Bueno died on June 8, 2018, at the age of 78.
Second largest tennis player in Brazil’s history, behind Maria Esther Bueno, Paulista Beatriz Haddad Maia is the main highlight of SP Open. Bia has been top 10 in the world and today occupies the 22nd position of the ranking, having won four WTA titles. In addition to Bia, six other Brazilians are confirmed in SP Open’s simple key: Laura Pigossi, Carolina Meligeni Alves, Luiza Fullana, Ana Candiotto, Victoria Barros and Nauhany Silva. In Qualifying, Brazil will be represented by Luisa Stefani, who will make her return to the simple keys, and Pietra Rivoli.
About SP Open
SP Open is a WTA 250 circuit tournament – one of the main categories of world women’s tennis – which is back in Sao Paulo after a 25 -year gap. The tournament will be played between September 6 and 14, in a complex set up in Villa-Lobos Park, in the west of São Paulo. “São Paulo Open of Tennis is another great asset than IMM, the country’s main company in the sports and entertainment segments, brings to the city of São Paulo. IMM is also the director of the Gastronomic Festival“ Taste of Sao Paulo ”, São Paulo Fashion Wek and Cirque du Soleil tour”.
