Milan's San Siro Stadium May Host ATP 250 Grass-Court Event Starting 2028

A new ATP 250 grass-court tournament is set to take place in Milan, Italy, from 2028, with the iconic San Siro stadium being a potential venue. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation has acquired the rights to the tournament, previously held in Brussels. The event will be held annually in June, with San Siro, home to AC Milan and Inter Milan, being considered as the primary location due to its massive capacity of over 75,000. However, the final decision on the venue is yet to be made, with the federation president, Angelo Binaghi, citing climate reasons for potentially hosting it in northern Italy. The introduction of practice courts within stadiums, as seen in the Madrid Open at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, makes San Siro a viable option. Italy has previously hosted a WTA grass-court tournament in Gaiba from 2022 to 2024. Additionally, the federation is set to host the ATP Finals in Turin until 2030 and the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna until next year, along with the Rome Masters on clay before the French Open. The federation also plans to install a retractable roof at the Foro Italico's Campo Centrale, with work scheduled to begin after this year's Internazionali BNL d'Italia and be completed in time for the 2028 edition. Binaghi expressed his ambition to make the Rome tournament a fifth Grand Slam, rivaling the likes of Indian Wells, and to have it join the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open as one of the sport's most prestigious events. Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner is also aiming to become the first Italian man to win the singles title at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta's victory 50 years ago.