A new grass-court ATP 250 tournament is set to take place in Milan, Italy, beginning in 2028, with the iconic San Siro stadium as a potential venue. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation has acquired the rights to the tournament, previously held in Brussels.
The event is slated for June and could utilize the San Siro, home to AC Milan and Inter Milan, which boasts a capacity of over 75,000. While the location is not yet finalized, the federation's president, Angelo Binaghi, suggests that northern Italy is the likely destination due to climate considerations.
The introduction of practice courts within stadiums, as seen with the Madrid Open at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, makes the San Siro a viable option. Italy has previously hosted a WTA grass-court tournament in Gaiba from 2022 to 2024. The federation aims to elevate the profile of Italian tennis, currently hosting the ATP Finals in Turin until 2030, the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, and the Rome Masters on clay.
Ambitions also include enhancing the Rome tournament to a Grand Slam level, rivaling events like Indian Wells. With ongoing improvements, such as the installation of a retractable roof at the Foro Italico, Italian tennis is poised for significant growth.