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 2028. The competition, designed as a preparatory stop for players heading to Wimbledon, is expected to take place at the iconic San Siro stadium, the home ground of football giants AC Milan and Inter Milan. With a seating capacity that exceeds 75,000 spectators, San Siro would provide a dramatic backdrop for high‑stakes tennis and could become one of the most visually striking venues on the ATP Tour. The initiative was announced by Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, after the federation secured the rights to a former ATP 250 tournament that had been held in Brussels each October.
By relocating the event to Milan and shifting it to June, the federation aims to fill a niche in the pre‑Wimbledon swing, offering players a chance to fine‑tune their games on grass under conditions that mimic the British Grand Slam. Binaghi emphasized that the final decision on the exact location is still pending, but he hinted that northern Italy’s climate makes it a logical choice for a summer grass‑court event. "For climate reasons, it will probably be held in northern Italy," he said, underscoring the importance of reliable weather for maintaining high‑quality playing surfaces.
The San Siro, with its massive infrastructure and experience hosting large‑scale sporting spectacles, emerges as a strong candidate. "There's still time to decide where to play it," Binaghi added, suggesting that negotiations are ongoing but that the stadium is already on the shortlist. The concept of staging tennis inside a football arena is not entirely new. The Madrid Open recently introduced temporary grass practice courts inside the Santiago Bernabéu, the home of Real Madrid, demonstrating that such cross‑sport adaptations can be both feasible and fan‑friendly.
"For once, we wouldn't be the first to do it," Binaghi remarked, pointing to the precedent set in Spain and indicating that Milan could follow suit, potentially setting a new standard for how major tennis events are presented. Italy’s recent tennis history includes a short‑lived WTA grass‑court tournament held in Gaiba from 2022 to 2024, showing that the country is already experimenting with grass surfaces. The new ATP event would therefore build on that experience, expanding the nation’s portfolio of high‑profile tennis competitions.
In addition to the upcoming Milan tournament, the federation already oversees several marquee events: the ATP Finals, which will remain in Turin through 2030, the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna scheduled through next year, and the historic Rome Masters on clay, a key lead‑up to the French Open. Infrastructure upgrades are also on the agenda.
Work on a retractable roof for the Campo Centrale at the Foro Italico 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. This development will ensure that the Rome Masters can continue to offer uninterrupted play regardless of weather, further cementing Italy’s reputation as a hub for world‑class tennis facilities. Binaghi has expressed an ambitious vision for the sport in Italy, hoping to elevate the Rome Masters to the status of a fifth Grand Slam alongside the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.
By attracting top talent and delivering a premier spectator experience, the federation aims to position Rome as a must‑visit destination for both players and fans. On the player side, Italian star Jannik Sinner is targeting a historic milestone. He hopes to become the first Italian man to win the singles title at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta’s triumph half a century ago.
Sinner’s pursuit adds a personal narrative to the broader national effort to raise the profile of tennis in Italy. The announcement also came with promotional tie‑ins for broadcasters. Sky Sports highlighted its contract‑free streaming option through the NOW platform, inviting viewers to watch live ATP and WTA matches without additional fees. The network also promoted its app, which offers news, video highlights, and a more accessible player experience for Chrome users.
Overall, the plan to host a Wimbledon‑preparatory grass‑court tournament at Milan’s San Siro represents a bold step for Italian tennis. It combines the allure of a world‑renowned football arena with the technical demands of top‑level tennis, promising fans an unforgettable spectacle and players a valuable opportunity to adapt to grass ahead of the sport’s most prestigious tournament. If the logistics align and the venue is confirmed, the 2028 edition could set a new benchmark for how tennis events are staged, blending tradition with innovation in a uniquely Italian setting.