The Oeiras Open, which Carlos Alcaraz won four years ago, has one of the most beautiful Center Courts in the world

The Oeiras Open, having just completed last week, has long established itself as a key fixture on the ATP Challenger Tour calendar. With a total prize money of €181,250, it is one of the most important tennis events in Portugal. The winner also earns valuable 125 ATP Ranking points.

The venue, the Complexo de Ténis do Jamor, is located in the idyllic Jamor National Park, west of Lisbon, in the municipality of Oeiras. The tennis training center features 35 courts. Its standout location, modern infrastructure, and proximity to the capital make it an ideal setting for a tournament of this magnitude.

Court Centralito

The picturesque Center Court, lovingly nicknamed "Centralito,” was inaugurated on June 10, 1945, and is considered by many players to be one of the most beautiful tennis courts in the world. The facility is one of the country's most important sports centers and was modernized in the 1990s. It not only hosts international tournaments but also frequently serves as the home venue for the Portuguese Davis Cup team.

“The Portuguese Tennis Federation manages the complex and Jamor is where the High Performance Center is located, so it makes perfect sense for us to organize several tournaments here,” explains Vasco Costa, CEO of the Portuguese Tennis Federation. “We support all tournaments that take place in home soil, but for these we take advantage of the excellent conditions of an excellent complex in order to give players the opportunity to earn points in multiple weeks.”

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A Stage for Rising Stars

The Challenger Tour is known as a launching pad for young talents striving for the top, and the Oeiras Open is a prime example. Carlos Alcaraz won the tournament in 2021. It was his first major title at this level, and just a week later, he broke into the Top 100 of the ATP rankings—a milestone that marked the beginning of his meteoric rise.

The tournament has since seen other thrilling editions with international champions: Zsombor Piros from Hungary triumphed in 2023, and Francisco Comesana from Argentina claimed the title in 2024. Ranked No. 61 in the ATP rankings, Comesana returned to Oeiras this year as the top seed—a clear testament to the tournament’s high competitive level.

In addition to Comesana, this year’s singles draw also featured three more Top 100 players: Roman Safiullin from Russia (ATP No. 73), Belgium’s Raphael Collignon (ATP No. 83), and Brazilian left-hander Thiago Monteiro (ATP No. 93).

Alongside the men’s competition, the Oeiras Open also hosts a WTA 125 event for women—Alexandra Eala took part—a growing trend among several ATP Challenger tournaments.

Portuguese Hopes and Positive Feedback

From a Portuguese perspective, Henrique Rocha (ATP No. 203) secured direct entry into this year’s main draw, while local players Gastão Elias, Pedro Araújo and Tiago Pereira received wild cards.

“On a global scale, our idea is to have as many weeks of competition as possible so that our players can compete in more tournaments at home, with less travel costs and more opportunities to earn points,” says Costa. “Last year, we had 46 weeks of professional tennis, across both men’s and women’s tournaments.”

Players have responded positively to the event, Costa notes with pride: “We have had very positive feedback from all the organizations we are part of, and this week it was a pleasure to have a player like Sorana Cirstea talking—during the tournament's Media Day—about the good reputation our tournaments and our organizations have out there among all the players.”

Another highlight of the Oeiras Open: Admission is free for spectators throughout the entire week. This offers fans a rare opportunity to experience international stars up close. The Oeiras Open is therefore not only a sporting highlight, but also a cultural event that seamlessly blends international top-level tennis and local tradition.