International Tennis Returns to South Africa with Exciting New ATP Series

Photo Credit: Rise - Supplied

The Rise Irene Open will launch a new era for South African tennis as the ATP Challenger Tour returns with four tournaments across Gauteng.

Centurion, South Africa (07 May 2026) – International tennis is set to make a major return to South Africa as the ATP Challenger Tour heads to out local courts with a new series of tournaments expected to bring top-level action, rising stars and a fresh buzz to the sport.

Leading the way is the Rise Irene Open, which will launch four consecutive ATP Challenger events across Gauteng between May and August 2026.

The tournament series begins with the Rise Irene Open from 25 to 31 May, followed by the Rise Centurion Open from 1 to 7 June. The action then continues later in the year with the Tshwane Open and Gauteng Open.

For South African tennis fans, the events offer a rare chance to watch international players and some of the country’s top local talent compete on home soil in a professional ATP environment.

The ATP Challenger Tour is known globally as the stepping stone to the top levels of world tennis, with many future ATP stars building their careers through these tournaments before breaking through internationally.

South Africa has previously hosted ATP Challenger events in places like Potchefstroom and Soweto, but organisers believe this latest chapter could play an important role in bringing consistent international tennis back into the local spotlight.

The Rise Irene Open is being led by the same team behind the hugely successful Match in Africa exhibition event in 2022, which saw tennis fans pack Cape Town Stadium in record numbers for a historic evening featuring Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Tournament director John-Laffnie de Jager said the new tournaments form part of a bigger vision for South African tennis.

“By hosting two ATP Challenger events back to back, it repositions SA as a relevant and competitive destination on the global tennis calendar and it becomes part of a critical international pathway where the next generation of African tennis champions compete, earn ranking points, and build their careers.”

South African fans can also look forward to seeing several local players in action, including Davis Cup representatives Alec Beckley, Devin Badenhorst, Phillip Henning, Kholo Montsi, Kris van Wyk, Marc van der Merwe and Thando Longwe-Smit, alongside leading college players Luc Koenig and Connor van Schalkwyk.

Organisers are aiming to create an energetic festival atmosphere around the opening stages of the tournament series, with live entertainment, food experiences, interactive activities and opportunities for fans to engage with former and current South African tennis players.

The events are also expected to bring added tourism activity and renewed attention to the local tennis scene, while giving younger players the opportunity to experience international-level tennis up close.

This signals a new chapter for South African tennis and a chance to once again see the country become part of the global tennis conversation.