Nauhany Silva, a 15-year-old tennis player from the Real Parque community in Morumbi, São Paulo, achieved a remarkable feat this Monday, September 8, 2025, by securing her first victory in a WTA-level tournament during her debut in the main draw of the SP Open, held at Villa-Lobos Park. Known as Naná, the young athlete faced experienced compatriot Carolina Meligeni Alves, 29, ranked as Brazil’s third-best player in the professional circuit, in a match lasting 1 hour and 49 minutes on the event’s hard courts. The final score of 6/7 (0-7 in the tiebreak), 6/2, and 6/0 reflects a dramatic comeback, with Naná overcoming a lost first set to dominate the subsequent ones and advance to the second round. This triumph, witnessed by a crowd torn between supporting both national players, not only marks the teenager’s victorious debut in elite competitions but also boosts her world ranking by approximately 420 positions, moving from 1,206th to around 786th in the upcoming WTA weekly update. The match took place within the SP Open, the first WTA 250 event in Brazil since 2016 and in São Paulo after a 25-year absence, featuring 32 players in the main draw and highlighting the resurgence of women’s tennis in the country, with seven Brazilian players confirmed.
Naná, who received a wild card from the organizers to enter the main draw directly, showcased maturity and power in her serve, reaching speeds close to 189 km/h, a key factor in becoming the first player born in 2010 to win a match at this level. The reason behind this victory lies in the young player’s resilience, adjusting her strategy to be more aggressive after the initial setback, exploiting her opponent’s errors and imposing her offensive game, while the how of the match involved a lost tiebreak in the first set due to mistakes in crucial points, followed by a fierce reaction in the subsequent games.
The match began with balanced intensity, but Carol Meligeni, with her experience in ITF and WTA 125 tournaments, gained the upper hand in the first set by forcing Naná’s errors in the tiebreak. However, the teenager responded in the second set by breaking her opponent’s serve early and maintaining a solid service game.
This turning point highlighted Naná’s adaptability, having trained intensely on the public courts of the same park where she now competes at a high level.
The third set was a display of dominance, with Naná converting all break opportunities and finishing with a bagel, a rare 6/0 that symbolized her surge of confidence.
Details of the generational clash
The duel between Naná Silva and Carol Meligeni represented a classic generational clash in Brazilian tennis, with the 29-year-old veteran bringing over a decade of circuit experience and the 15-year-old newcomer displaying the freshness and boldness of youth. Carol, ranked 237th in the world and a bronze medalist in doubles at the 2019 Pan-American Games in Lima, entered as the favorite due to her consistency in smaller events, but faced a Naná who, despite her inexperience, already boasted titles in junior ITF events and a strong presence in junior Grand Slams.
The match, played on the Maria Esther Bueno Center Court, drew a packed crowd, with applause split for each point, reflecting national pride in the all-Brazilian duel.
Naná, who grew up playing at Villa-Lobos Park with her father in search of free public courts, turned childhood memories into fuel for victory, adjusting her net positioning to neutralize Carol’s baseline shots.
The seasoned player from Campinas fought hard in the first set, saving crucial break points and forcing the tiebreak, but her accuracy dropped in the following sets, committing 28 unforced errors throughout the match.
This result not only validates the wild card given to Naná but also underscores the importance of opportunities for young talents in elite tournaments.
- In the first set, Carol converted 75% of points on her first serve, but Naná responded with 12 powerful winners.
- The tiebreak was decided by Naná’s errors on short volleys, allowing Carol to close it 7-0.
- In the second set, Naná broke her opponent’s serve twice, boosting her winner rate to 65%.
- The third set saw Carol with only 20% accuracy on her second serve, facilitating Naná’s absolute dominance.
- Overall, the young player tallied 42 winners compared to Carol’s 18, highlighting her renewed aggressiveness.
Naná Silva’s rising trajectory
Nauhany Silva, affectionately known as Naná, began her tennis journey humbly, frequenting public parks in São Paulo to overcome the sport’s financial barriers. At 12, she was still searching for available courts with her father, but quickly progressed to local competitions and, in 2023, at age 13, won her first ITF J30 in Guatemala, a milestone for players her age.
In 2024, she became the first player born in 2010 to enter the WTA rankings, earning initial points in ITF tournaments while balancing a junior and professional schedule. Her junior Grand Slam campaign impressed: third round at Wimbledon 2025 and participation in all majors for the first time, including a debut at Roland Garros the previous year.
Training with Rede Tênis Brasil, Naná developed a devastating serve, with speeds rivaling historical records, and a forehand that slices through the court with enviable precision and power for her age.
The wild card for the SP Open came as recognition of her potential, especially after a week prior at the US Open junior event, where she fell in the first round but gained valuable experience against global rivals.
This victory at her home tournament is not an isolated achievement; she has already trained with Bia Haddad Maia, her role model, and dreams of following in the footsteps of the compatriot who reached the world’s top 10.
The São Paulo native, born in Morumbi, balances studies and intense training, with family support as the pillar of her rise, and now aims for further advances in the circuit to accumulate crucial points toward the top 500.
Her aggressive and versatile playing style, effective on clay and hard courts, adapts well to the fast courts of Villa-Lobos, where light winds influenced decisive points in the match.
The SP Open and the revival of tennis in São Paulo
The SP Open emerges as a milestone for Brazilian women’s tennis, organized by IMM, the promoter of the Rio Open, and bringing elite WTA events back to São Paulo after a 25-year hiatus. The tournament, played on renovated hard courts at Villa-Lobos Park, offers a prize money of US$275,000, with the champion earning US$36,300 and 250 ranking points, encouraging participation from 32 players in the main draw and 16 doubles teams.
The schedule begins with the qualifying rounds on September 6 and 7, free for the public, and continues with daily main draw sessions starting September 8, including night matches under floodlights for added spectacle.
Seven Brazilian players secured spots: besides Naná and Carol, Beatriz Haddad Maia as the top seed, Laura Pigossi, Victoria Barros, Luiza Fullana, and Ana Candiotto, amplifying local support and creating a patriotic festive atmosphere.
The event features infrastructure for 30,000 spectators, including a gastronomic boulevard, sponsor activations like Claro and Heineken 0.0, and social initiatives via Projeto Bola Dentro, where students serve as ball kids and receive equipment donations.
Secondary courts allow open practices, and the main arena, with a capacity of 2,500, honors Maria Esther Bueno, a national icon with 19 Grand Slam titles.
Ground pass tickets, starting at R$30, sold out for the center court but provide access to big screens and interactive areas, promoting inclusion and family engagement.
- Qualifying: 24 players compete for four spots, with free entry and matches starting at 1 p.m.
- Main draw: Begins at 3 p.m. on weekdays, with night sessions after 5:30 p.m.; weekends start at 1 p.m.
- Doubles: 16 pairs, with highlights like Luisa Stefani and Ingrid Martins, top 100 globally.
- Prize money: US$3,110 for the first round, scaling to US$36,300 for the singles title.
- Broadcast: SporTV covers live, expanding national and international reach.
Next challenge for the young revelation
In the second round of the SP Open, equivalent to the round of 16, Naná Silva now faces Argentina’s Solana Sierra, the number 2 seed and ranked around the top 100 globally, in a tough test against a player experienced on fast courts. Sierra, known for her solid defense and strong return game, comes off recent wins in ITF and WTA 125 events, representing a significant step up after the all-Brazilian duel.
Naná, riding the momentum of her initial victory, will need to maintain the aggressiveness that led to her comeback, focusing on varying angles to avoid Sierra’s prolonged baseline rallies.
The match, scheduled for Tuesday, September 9, promises tension, with Sierra holding a favorable record against juniors, but Naná capable of surprising with her raw power and local crowd support.
This match could earn Naná an additional 54 ranking points if she advances to the quarterfinals, solidifying her leap and opening doors for future invitations to larger tournaments.
The young player, who has trained with Bia Haddad, sees this phase as a learning opportunity, adjusting tactics with her coach to exploit weaknesses in Sierra’s movement.
The SP Open continues with other Brazilian matchups, such as Bia Haddad against a qualifier, keeping the focus on the collective growth of the sport.
Highlights of other Brazilian players in the tournament
While Naná shines, other compatriots advance in the SP Open, reinforcing Brazil’s strength in the event. Victoria Barros, also 15 and a wild card, faces American Whitney Osuigwe in the first round, raising expectations for another junior surprise after her ITF J300 title in Bamberg this year.
Luiza Fullana, 24 and in her WTA debut, received a wild card and plays a qualifier, aiming to gain experience after her 2024 rise post-university in the U.S.
Ana Candiotto, Bia Haddad’s doubles partner, debuts alongside the top 20 player against Ingrid Martins and Laura Pigossi, an Olympic medalist, in an all-Brazilian doubles clash that excites the night session.
Bia Haddad Maia, the top seed and world number 22, opens against a qualifying player, seeking to replicate her US Open campaign and boost the tournament with home victories.
Laura Pigossi, besides doubles, competes in singles against Elizabeth Mandlik, using her Paris 2024 bronze medal as motivation for the quarterfinals.
These collective performances highlight the boom in Brazilian women’s tennis, with seven players in the main draw and potential for national semifinals.
- Victoria Barros: Coached by Patrick Mouratoglou, focuses on aggressiveness against Osuigwe.
- Luiza Fullana: First WTA event after Billie Jean King Cup, targets breaking her opponent’s serve.
- Bia-Candiotto doubles: Strong net strategy against the solidity of Martins-Pigossi.
- Bia in singles: 75% win rate in 2025 on hard courts, favorable to the matchup.
- Pigossi: Versatile in doubles and singles, with 16 recent ITF wins.
