SAO PAULO/STARNBERG, July 20, 2026
French player Oceane Babel continued her outstanding run in Brazil by winning the Santos Brasil Tennis Classic, a World Tennis Tour W35 tournament held at Esporte Clube Pinheiros in Sao Paulo. In Sunday’s final, the 22-year-old defeated Mell Reasco of Ecuador 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 44 minutes, claiming the first W35 title of her career.
With the victory, Babel earns 35 WTA Ranking points and US$4,860 in prize money. She is expected to move into the top 540, significantly closer to her career-high ranking of No. 440. Reasco receives 23 Ranking points and US$2,637, and is projected to rise to around No. 336 in the world. Both finalists were also presented with Vivara necklaces during the trophy ceremony.
The title completes an excellent two-week stretch for Babel in Brazil. After winning the ITF W15 Rio Claro event the previous week, she captured the biggest trophy of her career in Sao Paulo, dropping only one set throughout the tournament, which came in her opening match. Prior to this run, Babel had won two W15 titles and was also the 2021 Criciuma junior champion, one of the most prestigious events on the junior circuit.
“I’m very happy with this title, my second consecutive one in Brazil. It was a great week. I’d like to thank everyone who came to watch the tournament and my coach, who is here with me. I hope to come back next year,” Babel said after the final.
Despite the loss, Reasco was pleased with her performance in Sao Paulo.
“Last year I tried to enter the tournament, but I didn’t have a ranking high enough to get in. This year I’m very happy to have reached the final, especially after some difficult moments I’ve been through. I’m very grateful to my mother, who was here with me all week, and I also congratulate Oceane on the title,” she said.
Egorova and Cano take doubles crown
In the doubles final, Russia’s Daria Egorova and Mexico’s Marian Cano defeated Italy’s Giorgia Pedone and Mexico’s Ana Sofia Sanchez 6-2, 6-3 to win the title.
Cano became a two-time champion of the tournament, repeating the achievement from 2025, when she won alongside Peru’s Luciana Perez Alarcon.
The champions received 35 Ranking points and US$1,762, while the runners-up earned 23 points and US$895.
