Milan's San Siro Stadium May Host Grass-Court Tennis Event Starting 2028

A new grass-court ATP 250 tournament, serving as a Wimbledon warm-up event, is set to take place in Milan beginning in 2028, with the iconic San Siro stadium as a potential venue. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation has acquired the rights to a 250-level ATP Tour tournament previously held in Brussels. The event is scheduled to occur every June, starting in 2028, and while the exact location is yet to be determined, Milan's San Siro, with its vast capacity of over 75,000, is a strong contender. According to federation president Angelo Binaghi, the decision on the venue will be made with climate considerations in mind, making northern Italy a likely choice. Binaghi drew parallels with the Madrid Open, which is introducing practice courts within Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, suggesting that hosting the tournament at San Siro could be a viable option. Italy has prior experience hosting a grass-court WTA tournament in Gaiba from 2022 to 2024. Additionally, the federation is set to host the ATP Finals in Turin until 2030, the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna through next year, and the Rome Masters on clay before the French Open. Plans are also underway to install a retractable roof at the Foro Italico's Campo Centrale, with construction slated to commence immediately after this year's Internazionali BNL d'Italia, aiming for completion in time for the 2028 edition. Binaghi expressed his ambition to elevate the tournament in Rome to the status of a fifth Grand Slam, rivaling the likes of the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner is striving to become the first Italian man to win the singles title at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta's victory 50 years ago.