Italy is preparing to add a new grass‑court tournament to its tennis calendar, with a 250‑level ATP event slated to debut in Milan in June 2028. The competition will serve as a warm‑up for Wimbledon and is expected to be staged at the iconic San Siro stadium, the home of football giants AC Milan and Inter Milan.
San Siro can accommodate more than 75,000 spectators, making it one of the largest venues ever used for professional tennis. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation secured the tournament rights by acquiring the slot previously occupied by an ATP 250 event in Brussels that traditionally takes place in October. Federation president Angelo Binaghi announced that the newly‑acquired tournament will be moved to a summer date in June, aligning it with the traditional grass‑court season that leads up to the Championships at the All England Club. "We still have time to decide the exact location," Binaghi told reporters.
"Given the climate considerations, northern Italy is the most logical choice." This comment underscores the federation’s desire to host the event in a region where the weather in early summer is reliably mild, allowing for optimal playing conditions on grass. The idea of using a football arena for tennis is not unprecedented. The Madrid Open recently introduced practice courts inside the Santiago Bernabéu, the stadium of Real Madrid, showing that major clubs are open to multi‑sport adaptations. Binaghi hinted that San Siro could follow a similar model: "We would not be the first to try this, but it would certainly be a bold statement for Italian tennis." Italy already has experience with grass‑court tournaments.
From 2022 to 2024 the country hosted a WTA event on grass in the small town of Gaiba, demonstrating that the surface can thrive in the Italian climate. The new ATP event will build on that foundation, offering male players a chance to fine‑tune their games on grass without traveling to the United Kingdom.
The federation’s broader agenda includes several high‑profile commitments. It currently runs the ATP Finals in Turin through 2030, the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna until next year, and the Rome Masters, a premier clay‑court tournament that precedes the French Open. By adding a grass‑court event in Milan, the federation aims to create a more balanced seasonal offering that spans all three major surfaces—clay, hard and grass.
In parallel with the tournament plans, work is already underway on a retractable roof for the Campo Centrale at the Foro Italico in Rome. Construction is set to begin immediately after this year’s Internazionali BNL d'Italia and the roof is expected to be operational for the 2028 edition, ensuring that the historic clay event can continue regardless of weather disruptions. Binaghi also expressed an ambitious long‑term vision: 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 the sport’s premier tournaments.
Achieving that goal would require significant investment in facilities, prize money and global marketing, but the federation believes that a strong domestic calendar—now featuring a grass‑court event in Milan—will help attract the world’s top players and sponsors. Italian star Jannik Sinner, who has already made a name for himself on hard and clay courts, sees the new Milan event as an opportunity to chase a historic milestone. He hopes to become the first Italian man since Adriano Panatta, who won the Rome Masters 50 years ago, to claim a major singles title on home soil.
A successful run in Milan could provide Sinner with valuable grass‑court practice ahead of Wimbledon, potentially boosting his chances at the sport’s most prestigious lawn tournament. The addition of a Milan grass‑court tournament also offers commercial benefits. Broadcasters such as Sky Sports and streaming platforms like NOW are already promoting tennis coverage, promising fans contract‑free access to live matches, highlights and analysis.
By expanding the calendar, the federation can negotiate broader media rights deals, increasing revenue for Italian tennis and providing fans with more content throughout the year. In summary, the San Siro stadium is poised to become a landmark venue for professional tennis starting in 2028. The event will fill a gap in the ATP schedule, give players a high‑quality grass‑court preparation for Wimbledon, and reinforce Italy’s reputation as a versatile host of world‑class tennis competitions.
With the backing of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, the support of local authorities, and the enthusiasm of fans eager to see tennis played in a football cathedral, the Milan grass‑court tournament promises to be a vibrant addition to the sport’s global circuit.