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

Italy is set to host a high-profile grass-court ATP 250 tournament, serving as a Wimbledon warm-up event, beginning in 2028, with Milan's iconic San Siro stadium as the potential venue. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation has acquired the rights to a 250-level ATP Tour tournament previously held in Brussels, as announced by federation president Angelo Binaghi. The event is slated to take place every June, starting in 2028, and while San Siro, with its impressive capacity of over 75,000, is a likely candidate, the final decision has not been made. According to Binaghi, the tournament will likely be held in northern Italy due to climate considerations. The president also mentioned that the introduction of practice courts within Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu for the Madrid Open could set a precedent for utilizing San Siro. Previously, Italy hosted a WTA grass-court tournament in Gaiba from 2022 to 2024. The federation is also committed to hosting the ATP Finals in Turin until 2030 and the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna through next year, in addition to the Rome Masters on clay before the French Open. Furthermore, plans are underway to install a retractable roof at the Foro Italico's Campo Centrale, with construction scheduled 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 Rome tournament to the status of a fifth Grand Slam, rivaling the likes of Indian Wells, and joining the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open as one of the sport's most prestigious events. Meanwhile, 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.