Rio de Janeiro was introduced to a new official term on February 17: the unprecedented classification of Level 4 Heat. For the first time ever, an alert was issued to the population, warning of three days of temperatures fluctuating between 104 and 111 degrees. The announcement coincided with the opening of the Rio Open ATP 500, which experienced its hottest opening round since Rafael Nadal first set foot on its clay courts.
Anyone attending this year’s tournament could hardly escape the heat—or the scalpers, eager to buy extra tickets. Some were charging as much as $525—nearly 15 times the original price. “It’s not a statistic we like to talk about, but it definitely shows that the Brazilian public placed a high value on our 2025 edition,” said Luiz Carvalho, the tournament director.