A new grass-court ATP 250 tournament, serving as a warm-up to Wimbledon, is set to take place in Milan beginning in 2028, with the iconic San Siro stadium being considered as a potential venue. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation has acquired the rights to the event, which was previously held in Brussels. The tournament is scheduled to occur every June, and while the exact location is yet to be finalized, Milan's San Siro, with its capacity of over 75,000, is a strong contender.
The federation's president, Angelo Binaghi, mentioned that the event will likely be held in northern Italy due to climate reasons. Binaghi also drew inspiration from the Madrid Open, which is introducing practice courts within Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, suggesting that San Siro could be an ideal location. 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.
Furthermore, plans are underway to install a retractable roof at the Foro Italico's Campo Centrale, with construction expected to commence immediately after this year's Internazionali BNL d'Italia and be completed 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 Indian Wells and joining the ranks of the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open as one of the sport's most prestigious events.