Rio Open Forges Green Path on Red Clay
As February’s heat grips Rio de Janeiro, the Rio Open presented by Claro turns its clay courts into a proving ground for sustainable tennis, offsetting emissions and rallying fans without skipping a baseline beat.
In the sticky February air of Rio de Janeiro, where red clay clings to every slide and topspin bite, the Rio Open presented by Claro pulses with purpose beyond the rallies. This ATP 500 event, set to unfold in 2026, weaves environmental strategy into its rhythm, much like a player varying slice and heavy topspin to control the slow surface. Fans streaming in for the early clay swing encounter a tournament that neutralizes its footprint while sustaining the electric thrum of match points, proving elite tennis can evolve without losing edge.
Last season marked a milestone, with the event offsetting 1,819 tonnes of CO2 equivalent and diverting 69.2 per cent of waste through recycling, reuse, or composting. Since 2020, it has held United Nations certification as carbon-neutral, fully balancing emissions from operations and travel. The Rio Open Green program drives this forward, centering on emission cuts, fan education, and waste control to lighten the load of hosting thousands amid the Tour’s demanding calendar.
“The figures prove that it is possible to host a major sporting event with an increasingly lower environmental impact while simultaneously generating significant economic results for the city and the community,” said Marcia Casz, General Director of the Rio Open presented by Claro.
Offsets counter travel’s heavy toll
Partnering with ENGIE, the tournament tallies greenhouse gases from event logistics and spectator journeys, then counters them via UN-certified credits from the Jirau Hydroelectric Power Plant’s renewable energy. With about 40 per cent of fans arriving from other states, travel’s impact looms large, akin to the endurance test of endless clay exchanges. This setup keeps the footprint minimal, allowing the focus to sharpen on the court action—those inside-out forehands slicing through humid air—while building a model for the ATP’s global reach across over 60 events in nearly 30 countries.
An interactive carbon calculator integrates into ticket purchases, prompting supporters to log their transport mode and reveal the resulting emissions. It guides toward lighter choices, like public buses or cycling to the venue, easing the psychological pull of long-haul fandom in a warming world. This hands-on tool mirrors a coach breaking down a 1–2 pattern, turning awareness into action that sustains the crowd’s energy from qualies to finals.
Waste cuts mirror tactical precision
In 2025, waste headed to landfills dropped to 30.8 per cent, thanks to the Rio Green Project’s targeted strategies that curb single-use plastics and boost responsible disposal. Stations around the grounds encourage sorting, much like players adjusting footing on the grippy surface to launch a down-the-line winner. These efforts keep the venue as clean as fresh court lines, preserving the flow of a tournament where every point builds momentum.
The program’s pillars—reducing emissions, engaging fans, and managing waste—unite under ATP Serves, where events, players, and partners align for broader change. On clay, where rallies stretch and recovery matters, this green framework adds resilience, inspiring the Tour to carry the momentum forward. As 2026 dawns, Rio’s approach sets an early tone, blending sustainability with the sport’s unyielding drive, each offset a quiet ace in the push for a cooler calendar.
