The announcement is a major boost to Rio, who will host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in just over four years' time, and it is designed to promote international travel to the region.

The city is also due to host the final of the 2014 World Cup, which is taking place in Brazil. 

"Rio de Janeiro is a spectacular destination in a country with a great tradition in tennis, and we're pleased they've chosen the ATP World Tour as the platform for communicating their international tourism message," said ATP President Adam Helfant.

"The ATP World Tour features 62 events in 32 countries, so the partnership delivers a very strong international presence."

The agreement sees Rio become the new presenting partner of ATP World Tour Uncovered - the Tour's weekly 30-minute magazine-style television show - that airs in more than 150 countries, reaching more than 400 million viewers.

In addition, Rio will have significant presence on the Tour's official website ATPWorldTour.com.

It is also a huge boost for Olympic and Paralympic tennis at Rio 2016, both of which will take place at the Olympic Tennis Centre.

The complex, which is currently under construction, will be located within the Rio Olympic Park Precinct in close proximity to the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Village.

Once complete, the Olympic Tennis Centre will feature a total of 16 courts across a site area of ten hectares and after the Games, ten courts will be maintained as part of the Olympic Training Centre (OTC) in order to providing a strong legacy for the sport in Brazil.

Marcia Lins, the Secretary of State for Sports and Leisure in Rio, said that the goal of the deal with the ATP is showcase both the Brazilian city and the sporting heritage of the city

"The ATP World Tour provides the perfect opportunity for the State of Rio de Janeiro to showcase internationally the unique combination of one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world with the passion for sports," said Lins.

"Rio de Janeiro has a history of hosting and supporting big events.

"The state is experiencing a unique moment in time with upcoming major sporting events like the World Cup in 2014 and the 2016 Olympic Games.

"We invite sports fans around the world to plan their visit to Rio de Janeiro."

As a platinum level sponsor of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, Rio will also receive huge coverage as the event at the O2 Arena is one of the most internationally viewed events on the tennis calendar.

The prestigious competition features only the top eight players in the world including reigning Olympic champion Rafael Nadal of Spain, Serbia's world number one Novak Djokovic, 16-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer of Switzerland and British star Andy Murray.

All four will be looking for a confidence building victory in London ahead of the Olympic tennis competition at Wimbledon next year where Djokovic will be gold medal favourite after storming to his first victory at the prestigious All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club earlier this year in a season that has seen him take three of the four Grand Slam titles.

During London 2012, the O2 Arena will be referred to as the North Greenwich Arena due to sponsorship agreements and it will host artistic gymnastics, trampoline and the basketball finals during the Olympics and then wheelchair basketball during the Paralympics.

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