From Rio de Janeiro to João Pessoa, Natal, Maceió, Vitória, and its neighboring Vila Velha, as well as cities like Balneário Camboriú, Guarujá, Marechal Deodoro, and Aquiraz, Brazil is hosting or preparing to host this year's International Beach Tennis Tour.

These cities, nestled in beachfront areas, underscore Brazil's burgeoning prominence in the sport of beach tennis.

A compelling indicator of Brazil's beach tennis dominance is the International Tennis Federation (ITF) organizing tour cities across the country, spanning from the northern to the southern regions.

Notably, some of these cities, such as São Paulo, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Teresina, and Palmas, and even Cuiabá, situated furthest from the coast, are not coastal destinations.

Moreover, beach tennis isn't confined to Brazil's coastal areas. Inland cities like Ribeirão Preto, Vinhedo, and Sorocaba in São Paulo, and Maringá, Londrina, and Foz do Iguaçu in Paraná, as well as in the states of Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Goiás, and Rio Grande do Norte, have embraced the sport.

Beach tennis is gaining popularity across Brazil, attracting an increasing number of participants. With over 500,000 people in more than 50 countries engaging in the sport, Brazil, along with Italy and Spain, stands out as a hub for beach tennis enthusiasts.

The game's unique appeal lies in its aerobic nature, with less stress on the knees and joints due to its sandy terrain.

Retaining most of tennis's traditional rules and scoring, beach tennis has undergone modifications to accommodate the sandy surface and the game's fast pace. Played entirely in interceptions, where the ball cannot touch the ground, it's faster than traditional tennis, demanding a commitment to a high level of play akin to volleyball.

The objective is to hit the ball once and drive it into the opponent's net. The use of depressurized tennis balls contributes to longer rallies on the sand. Typically played by teams of two on a regular beach volleyball court with a 5-foot, 7-inch high net, beach tennis has become a captivating variation of the traditional game.

The roots of beach tennis trace back to Italy in the early 1970s, where vacationing tennis players played on the beaches of Lido degli Estensi in Ferrara Comacchio, using racquets and volleyball nets already available.

The game was formalized in 1976 in Torre de la Barra, Spain, with the first tournament held in Torredenbarra in 1978. Since then, it has become an annual event on the same beach.

The sport has spread across Italian coastal beaches, boasting over 1,600 beach tennis nets, and an increasing number of inland and indoor courts. Italy alone is estimated to have around 250,000 beach tennis players, solidifying the sport's global appeal and continued growth.

Brazil's rich tapestry of beach tennis extends beyond its coastal allure. In the heart of the country, cities like São Paulo, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Teresina, and Palmas showcase a fervent embrace of this dynamic sport.

Even Cuiabá, far from the ocean's edge, joins the rally, highlighting the nationwide fervor for beach tennis. Inland strongholds such as Ribeirão Preto, Vinhedo, Sorocaba, Maringá, Londrina, and Foz do Iguaçu further amplify the sport's resonance, bridging the geographical gap between coasts and hinterlands.

Brazil's comprehensive adoption of beach tennis transcends its beachfront reputation, uniting diverse landscapes under the banner of this thrilling and inclusive sport.