RIO DE JANEIRO - The Rio Open, South America's only ATP 500 event, will return in 2022 after being canceled this year because of COVID-19, organizers said on Thursday.

The clay-court tournament will be played at the Jockey Club Brasileiro from February 12 to 20 in Rio de Janeiro's southern neighborhood of Gavea.

"We missed you a lot, but we're back. The return of the Rio Open is a great gift for the city of Rio de Janeiro," tournament director Marcia Casz said in a statement.

"The successful vaccination program gave us a desire to be back together again... safely, of course. We are preparing a Rio Open that will be the best of all," she added.

Previous Rio Open winners include Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Dominic Thiem and Diego Schwartzman.

The last edition in 2020 was won by Chile's Cristian Garin, who beat Gianluca Mager of Italy in the final 7-6, 7-5.