Rio Open is the only tournament in South America to simultaneously gather a stage of the ATP World Tour 500 and WTA International. First ATP World Tour 500 in the history of Brazil also marked the debut of a stage of the WTA circuit in Rio de Janeiro. It is part of a selected group of thirteen tournaments denominated ATP 500, being one of the 22 most important in the ATP schedule.

This qualifies it as the largest anual sporting event in the city, and one of the only tournaments ATP 500 on clay in the world along with Barcelona and Hamburg. The tournament has already brought big athletes to the city, such as Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga e Fabio Fognini.