A new grass-court ATP 250 tournament, serving as a Wimbledon warm-up event, is set to take place in Milan from 2028. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation has acquired the rights to this event, previously held in Brussels. The tournament is expected to be held annually in June, with Milan's renowned San Siro stadium, home to AC Milan and Inter Milan, being a potential venue due to its massive capacity of over 75,000 spectators. Although no final decision has been made regarding the location, the federation's president, Angelo Binaghi, hinted that the event will likely be held in northern Italy due to climate considerations.
Binaghi drew inspiration from the Madrid Open, which is introducing practice courts within Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, suggesting that San Siro could be a viable option. Italy has previously hosted a WTA grass-court 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 federation is also planning to install a retractable roof at the Foro Italico's Campo Centrale, with construction slated to begin immediately after this year's Internazionali BNL d'Italia and be completed in time for the 2028 edition. Binaghi expressed his ambition to make the Rome tournament a fifth Grand Slam, rivaling the likes of Indian Wells and joining the ranks of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open as one of the sport's most prestigious events. Jannik Sinner is currently striving to become the first Italian man to claim the singles title at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta's victory 50 years ago.