Italy is set to add a new grass‑court tournament to its tennis calendar, with a 250‑level ATP event slated to debut in Milan from 2028. The competition, intended as a preparatory stop before Wimbledon, could be staged at the iconic San Siro stadium – the home of football giants AC Milan and Inter Milan – which can accommodate more than 75,000 spectators. The initiative stems from the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, which recently secured the rights to an existing ATP 250 tournament that had been held in Brussels each October.
Federation president Angelo Binaghi announced that the event will be relocated to Italy and shifted to June, aligning it with the traditional grass‑court season that leads into the Championships at the All England Club. "There is still time to decide exactly where the tournament will be played," Binaghi told reporters. "Given the climate considerations, northern Italy is the most logical choice." The San Siro, with its massive capacity and recent experience hosting large‑scale non‑football spectacles, emerged as a strong candidate.
While the venue has never hosted a professional tennis match, the idea is not without precedent; the Madrid Open recently installed practice courts inside the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, showing that major football arenas can be adapted for elite tennis events. "We would not be the first to try this," Binaghi added, noting that the concept is gaining traction across Europe. If the San Siro becomes the new home for the tournament, the stadium would undergo a temporary transformation each June.
Grass courts would be laid over a specially designed platform to protect the pitch and provide a playing surface that meets ATP standards. Organisers anticipate a vibrant atmosphere, with the stadium’s sheer size creating a unique backdrop for players and fans alike. The event would also benefit from Milan’s well‑developed transport links and its reputation as a cultural hub, potentially attracting both local tennis enthusiasts and international visitors. Italy already has a foothold in grass‑court tennis.
From 2022 to 2024 the country hosted a WTA grass event in Gaiba, demonstrating that Italian organisers can successfully manage surface‑specific tournaments. Moreover, the Italian Tennis Federation is already overseeing several high‑profile competitions: the ATP Finals, which will remain in Turin through 2030, the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna scheduled through next year, and the traditional Rome Masters on clay, which serves as a key lead‑up to the French Open. In addition to the new grass event, the federation is planning infrastructural upgrades at other venues. Work on a retractable roof for the Campo Centrale at the Foro Italico – the site of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia – is set to begin immediately after this year’s edition and is expected to be completed in time for the 2028 tournament.
A roof would allow matches to continue regardless of weather, enhancing the tournament’s appeal and ensuring a smoother schedule. Binaghi also voiced an ambitious vision for Italian tennis: he hopes to elevate the Rome Masters to the status of a fifth Grand Slam, joining the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open as one of the sport’s premier events. Achieving this goal would require significant investment, marketing, and perhaps further innovations such as expanding the stadium capacity or adding new technology for fan engagement.
Italian star Jannik Sinner, who has already made waves on the ATP Tour, will be a focal point of the upcoming grass tournament. He aims to become the first Italian man to win the singles title at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta’s victory fifty years ago, and a successful run on grass in Milan could serve as a springboard toward that historic achievement. The introduction of a grass‑court ATP 250 event in Milan reflects a broader trend of diversifying tennis venues and bringing the sport to larger, more versatile stadiums. By leveraging the San Siro’s iconic status and Milan’s vibrant atmosphere, the Italian Tennis Federation hopes to create a memorable experience for players, sponsors, and fans alike, while strengthening Italy’s position on the global tennis map.
For viewers, the tournament will be accessible through various broadcast partners. Sky Sports will carry live coverage, and streaming options will be available via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app, offering subscribers an expanded portfolio of live sport without additional fees. This multi‑platform approach ensures that the excitement of the new Milan grass event reaches a wide audience, further promoting tennis in Italy and beyond.