Jannik Sinner, a name that already resonates on the grandest stages of world tennis, not only made history in 2025 by becoming the first Italian to win Wimbledon, defeating the formidable Carlos Alcaraz, but now leads a revolution in Italian tennis that could forever change the landscape of the ATP circuit. This monumental achievement, crowned with the victory of the Men’s Cup on Centre Court, was not just a personal triumph but a catalyst for a colossal national ambition: to bring a new ATP tournament to Italy, this time on grass, by 2028.
The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP), under the leadership of president Angelo Binaghi, has taken a bold step by acquiring the rights to an ATP 250 tournament that currently takes place on indoor hard courts in Brussels in October. The plan? To move this event to June, aligning it with the grass tournament season leading up to Wimbledon, and to host it on Italian soil, likely in the northern part of the country due to climatic considerations.
Binaghi does not hide his enthusiasm and the futuristic vision behind the operation. “There is still time to decide where it will take place,” he stated, leaving open the possibility of iconic venues like the San Siro stadium in Milan hosting this innovation – an idea that echoes the recent initiative by the Madrid Open to integrate training courts within the iconic Santiago Bernabeu. “For the first time, we wouldn’t be the pioneers in this innovation,” emphasized the president of FITP.
The investment is significant, with Binaghi ensuring around 24 million dollars to secure the license, of which approximately 10% goes to the ATP. This acquisition is part of a clear strategy to strengthen Italy’s presence on the international calendar, as the country hosts the prestigious Masters 1000 in Rome, the ATP Finals in Turin until at least 2030, and the Davis Cup finals until 2027.
This new tournament could position Milan as a key player in the grass season, joining historic events such as Stuttgart, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Mallorca, and Eastbourne. Furthermore, the Lombard city, which was the venue for the former Milan Indoor until 2005, would return to the spotlight of ATP tennis, reinforcing its tradition and prestige.
The Milan Indoor was not just any event; it was the stage for young prodigy Roger Federer’s first ATP title in 2001, and it served as a ground for victories for legends such as Björn Borg, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, and Boris Becker. Its history is rich, having passed through various iconic venues, such as the PalaLido, and always favoring a synthetic surface that promoted aggressive and dynamic tennis.
Today, Milan keeps the flame of tennis alive through the ATP Challenger at the Aspria Harbour Club and junior tournaments at the Tennis Club Milano Alberto Bonacossa, where names like Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic, and Pennetta took their first steps. The Torneo Avvenire, now dedicated to under-14 players, continues to be a global reference in the development of young talents.
Even more recently, Milan stood out by hosting the Next Generation ATP Finals from 2017 to 2022, establishing itself as a hub for emerging tennis talent. The future promises even more with the potential arrival of the ATP Finals at the new Arena Santa Giulia, built for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
With the ATP calendar set to welcome a new Masters in Saudi Arabia in 2028 and this ATP 250 tournament in Italy, the grass season gains new strength and diversity. For Milan, this is a decisive moment that could elevate the city to the level of the great stages of world tennis, while for Italy, it represents a powerful assertion of its growing influence in the sport and a tribute to the economic and social impact of tennis in the country, which already mobilizes 16.9 million fans and generates over 1.4 billion dollars annually.
Jannik Sinner is not only winning trophies; he is leading a revolution that promises to place Italy at the center of the global tennis universe. Get ready, because the Italian grass is about to enter a new era of glory and excitement.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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