Milan's San Siro Stadium May Host ATP Grass-Court Event from 2028

A new grass-court ATP 250 tournament, serving as a Wimbledon warm-up event, is set to take place in Milan starting from 2028, with the iconic San Siro stadium being a potential venue. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation has acquired the rights to host this event, which was previously held in Brussels in October. The tournament is scheduled to occur annually in June, beginning in 2028. Given its massive capacity of over 75,000, San Siro, home to AC Milan and Inter Milan, is a strong contender to host the event. However, the final decision on the venue is yet to be made, with the federation president, Angelo Binaghi, suggesting that the choice will be influenced by climate considerations, making northern Italy a likely location. Binaghi drew parallels with the Madrid Open, which is introducing practice courts within Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, implying that San Siro could be a viable option. This development follows Italy's previous experience in hosting a grass-court WTA tournament in Gaiba from 2022 to 2024. The federation is also committed to hosting other significant tennis events, including the ATP Finals in Turin until 2030 and the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna until next year, alongside 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 after this year's Internazionali BNL d'Italia and be completed 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 positioning it alongside the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open as one of the sport's most prestigious events. As the tennis calendar unfolds, Jannik Sinner is poised to make history by becoming the first Italian man to win the singles title at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta's victory 50 years ago.