A new grass-court ATP 250 tournament, serving as a warm-up for Wimbledon, is set to debut in Milan starting in 2028, with the historic San Siro stadium being considered as a potential venue. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation has acquired the rights to host this event, which was previously held in Brussels. The tournament is slated to take place every June, and while the San Siro, home to AC Milan and Inter Milan, is a likely candidate, a final decision has yet to be made. According to federation president Angelo Binaghi, the event will likely be held in northern Italy due to climate considerations.
This development follows Italy's previous experience hosting a WTA grass-court tournament in Gaiba from 2022 to 2024. The Italian Tennis Federation is also set to host 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. Furthermore, plans are underway to install a retractable roof at the Foro Italico's Campo Centrale, with work expected to commence after this year's Internazionali BNL d'Italia and be completed in time for the 2028 edition.
Binaghi has expressed ambitions to elevate the Rome tournament 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 premier events.