Italy is preparing to add a new grass‑court tournament to the ATP calendar, with a 250‑level event slated to debut in Milan in 2028. The competition, designed as a warm‑up for Wimbledon, could take place in the iconic San Siro stadium, the home of football giants AC Milan and Inter Milan.
The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation secured the rights to the tournament after acquiring the slot previously occupied by an ATP 250 event in Brussels that traditionally runs in October. Federation president Angelo Binaghi announced that the new tournament will be moved to June, aligning it with the grass‑court season that leads into the British Grand Slam. San Siro, a venue famous for its massive capacity of more than 75,000 spectators, is being considered as the likely location for the tennis showdown. Binaghi explained that the decision on the exact site is not yet final, but climate considerations point toward a northern Italian setting.
"There’s still time to decide where to play it," he said, adding that the milder weather in the north during June makes it a practical choice for maintaining high‑quality grass courts. The concept of staging tennis in a football arena is not unprecedented. The Madrid Open recently introduced practice courts inside the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, the home of Real Madrid, demonstrating that large, multi‑purpose venues can successfully accommodate top‑level tennis.
Binaghi noted that Milan would not be the first to experiment with such a format, but it would be a bold step for Italian tennis. "For once, we wouldn’t be the first to do it," he remarked, referencing the innovative approach taken in Spain.
Italy already has a recent history with grass‑court events. From 2022 to 2024 the country hosted a WTA tournament on grass in the small town of Gaiba, showing that there is both interest and infrastructure to support this surface. The new ATP 250 event would build on that foundation, offering male players an additional opportunity to fine‑tune their games ahead of Wimbledon. The federation’s agenda extends beyond this upcoming tournament.
Italy is currently the host of the ATP Finals in Turin, a partnership that will continue through 2030, and it also runs the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna until next year. On the clay circuit, the Rome Masters remains a key preparatory stop before the French Open. In addition, work is already underway on a retractable roof for the Campo Centrale at the Foro Italico, the venue for the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. Construction is set to begin immediately after this year’s edition and aims to be completed in time for the 2028 tournament, ensuring that the event can continue regardless of weather conditions.
Binaghi expressed a broader ambition 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 that goal would require significant investment, marketing, and perhaps further innovations in venue design—such as the potential use of San Siro for a grass‑court event. Among the players likely to target the new Milan tournament is Jannik Sinner, Italy’s rising star who is eager to become the first Italian man to win the singles title at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta captured it five decades ago.
Sinner’s participation would add considerable star power and draw global attention to the event, especially if the venue can deliver a unique atmosphere that blends the passion of football stadiums with the elegance of grass‑court tennis. The announcement also came with a reminder of how fans can follow the action. Sky Sports offers contract‑free streaming through its NOW platform, and the Sky Sports app provides live scores, video highlights, and in‑depth coverage of both the ATP and WTA tours.
Viewers are encouraged to use Chrome for the best video experience, and the network promises more than 50 percent additional live sport coverage at no extra cost for its customers. In summary, Milan’s San Siro stadium is poised to become a landmark location for a new ATP 250 grass‑court tournament beginning in 2028. The event will serve as a crucial preparation stage for Wimbledon, expand Italy’s portfolio of high‑profile tennis competitions, and potentially pave the way for further innovations such as a fifth Grand Slam in Rome. With the backing of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, the support of major broadcasters, and the enthusiasm of players like Jannik Sinner, the upcoming tournament promises to enrich the global tennis calendar while showcasing Milan’s capacity to host world‑class sporting spectacles.