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

A new grass-court ATP 250 tournament, serving as a Wimbledon warm-up event, is set to take place in Milan starting from 2028, with the possibility of being held at the renowned San Siro stadium. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation has acquired the rights to a 250-level ATP Tour event previously held in Brussels, as announced by federation president Angelo Binaghi. The tournament is scheduled to occur annually in June, beginning in 2028, and while the San Siro stadium, home to AC Milan and Inter Milan with a capacity exceeding 75,000, is a potential venue, a final decision has yet to be made. According to Binaghi, the event will likely be hosted in northern Italy due to climate considerations. The San Siro stadium could be a viable option, especially given that the Madrid Open is introducing practice courts within Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu. Italy has previously hosted 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 until next year, and the Rome Masters on clay before the French Open. The development of a retractable roof for Campo Centrale at the Foro Italico is slated to commence immediately after this year's Internazionali BNL d'Italia, with completion expected by the 2028 edition. Binaghi also expressed aspirations to elevate the tournament in Rome to the status of a fifth Grand Slam, rivaling the likes of Indian Wells and positioning it alongside the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open as one of the sport's most prestigious events. Furthermore, Jannik Sinner is striving to become the first Italian man to secure the singles title at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta's victory 50 years ago.