Italy is preparing to add a new grass‑court tournament to its tennis calendar, with plans for an ATP 250 event that will serve as a warm‑up for Wimbledon. The competition is slated to begin in June 2028 and is expected to take place at Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium, the massive venue that is home to football giants AC Milan and Inter Milan.
The San Siro can accommodate more than 75,000 spectators, making it one of the largest settings for a tennis event in Europe and offering a spectacular backdrop for players and fans alike. The initiative was announced by Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation. Binaghi explained that the federation has acquired the rights to a former ATP 250 tournament that was previously staged in Brussels during October.
By relocating the event to Italy and shifting it to a June slot, the federation aims to provide a high‑quality preparation opportunity for the world’s top players ahead of the grass‑court Grand Slam at Wimbledon. "There is still time to decide exactly where the tournament will be played," Binaghi said during a press conference. "Given the climate considerations, northern Italy is the most logical choice." The milder weather in the north during early summer is expected to produce reliable playing conditions on the newly laid grass surfaces, which is crucial for a tournament that will attract athletes seeking to fine‑tune their games before the British major. The choice of San Siro is not without precedent.
In recent years, other clubs have experimented with converting football arenas into temporary tennis venues. For example, the Madrid Open introduced practice courts inside the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, the home of Real Madrid.
Binaghi pointed out that Milan would not be the first city to repurpose a football coliseum for tennis, but it would certainly be among the most ambitious, given the scale of San Siro. Italy already has a history of hosting grass‑court events. From 2022 to 2024, the town of Gaiba staged a WTA tournament on grass, demonstrating that the country can successfully manage the logistical challenges of maintaining high‑quality grass courts.
The new ATP 250 event will build on that experience, offering both men’s and, potentially, women’s draws in the future, though the initial plan focuses on the men’s ATP Tour. Beyond the San Siro tournament, the Italian federation is heavily involved in several other high‑profile tennis competitions. It currently hosts the ATP Finals in Turin, a contract that runs through 2030, and the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, which will remain in the city until at least next year.
Additionally, the federation organizes the Rome Masters, a premier clay‑court event that serves as a key lead‑up to the French Open. In preparation for the 2028 grass‑court event, work is already underway on a retractable roof for the Campo Centrale at the Foro Italico, the venue that stages the Rome Masters. The construction is set to begin immediately after this year’s Internazionali BNL d'Italia and is expected to be completed in time for the 2028 edition, ensuring that rain‑affected matches can continue uninterrupted. Binaghi also expressed a broader ambition for Italian tennis: to elevate the Rome Masters to the status of a fifth Grand Slam, joining the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open as one of the sport’s premier tournaments.
He believes that by offering world‑class facilities, a strong player field, and a compelling fan experience, Rome could eventually rival the traditional majors. Italian star Jannik Sinner, who has already made a name for himself on the ATP Tour, hopes to become the first Italian man to win the singles title at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta captured it half a century ago. Sinner’s success would be a powerful narrative boost for the sport in Italy and could inspire a new generation of players. For viewers, the tournament will be accessible through various broadcasting platforms.
Sky Sports will carry live coverage of both the ATP and WTA Tours, and subscribers can also stream matches via the NOW service and the Sky Sports app. These options promise more than 50 percent additional live sport content at no extra charge for Sky Sports customers. In summary, Milan’s San Siro stadium is poised to become a landmark venue for a new grass‑court ATP 250 event beginning in 2028.
The tournament will provide a crucial preparatory stage for players targeting Wimbledon, leverage Italy’s growing tennis infrastructure, and potentially pave the way for Rome to ascend to Grand Slam status. With the backing of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, significant investments in venue upgrades, and the enthusiasm of local fans, the initiative represents a bold step forward for Italian tennis on the global stage.