Italy to Host ATP Grass Court Wimbledon Tune-up Event in 2028

Italy is rapidly transforming itself into a global epicenter for professional tennis, moving beyond its traditional clay-court dominance to embrace the prestige of the grass season. In a bold strategic move, the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP) has purchased the rights to an ATP 250-level tournament previously held in Brussels, with the intent to relocate and reimagine the event as a premier Wimbledon tuneup on grass courts.

The new tournament is scheduled to debut in June 2028, providing elite players with a critical opportunity to adapt their game to grass before heading to the championships at the All England Club. This acquisition signals a significant shift in the European tennis calendar, as the event—which was traditionally held in October—will be moved to the early summer to align with the grass-court swing.

FITP President Angelo Binaghi announced the development on Tuesday, emphasizing that although the specific location is still under deliberation, the event will likely be staged in northern Italy to accommodate the necessary climate conditions for maintaining high-quality grass courts. The move comes amid a period of unprecedented success for Italian tennis, fueled largely by the ascent of top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who captured the Wimbledon title last year in 2025 .

A Vision for San Siro: Tennis in the Cathedral of Football

One of the most ambitious aspects of the FITP’s plan is the potential venue for the tournament. President Binaghi has suggested that the event could be played on the soccer pitch inside Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium. Such a move would mirror a growing trend of integrating high-profile tennis events into legendary football arenas.

Binaghi noted that the Madrid Open is introducing practice courts inside Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium, providing a modern precedent for the project. “For once, we wouldn’t be the first to do it,” Binaghi remarked, indicating that the logistical framework for such a conversion is becoming more viable for major sporting bodies .

The prospect of seeing a grass-court tournament in the heart of Milan would not only provide a massive seating capacity but similarly bring the sport to a wider urban audience, further cementing tennis as a primary sporting attraction in Italy. Still, the federation has stressed that there is still time to finalize the location, with the primary requirement being a climate suitable for the demanding nature of grass surfaces.

The ‘Sinner Effect’ and Italy’s Tennis Expansion

The expansion of Italy’s tennis portfolio is not happening in a vacuum. The country is currently experiencing a “golden age” of the sport, led by Jannik Sinner. Sinner’s dominance on the ATP Tour and his 2025 Wimbledon victory have catalyzed a surge of interest and investment in the sport across the peninsula.

This momentum is reflected in the sheer number of high-stakes events Italy now hosts. The FITP has successfully secured the ATP Finals, currently held in Turin, with a commitment to host the event through 2030. Italy is hosting the Davis Cup finals in Bologna through next year .

The addition of a June grass-court event fills a strategic gap in the Italian calendar. While Italy has a rich history with clay, it has had limited ventures into grass. The federation previously hosted a WTA tournament on grass in Gaiba from 2022 to 2024, proving that the country could successfully manage the specialized requirements of the surface.

Key Event Timeline and Logistics

What This Means for the ATP Tour

For the ATP Tour, the relocation of the Brussels event to Italy in June creates a more streamlined and attractive lead-up to Wimbledon. Players often struggle to find quality grass-court preparation outside of the UK and a few other European sites. By establishing a high-level ATP 250 event in northern Italy, the FITP is offering a competitive alternative that could attract a deeper field of top-10 players looking for match rhythm on grass.

The move also highlights the FITP’s evolution since its founding in 1910 as the Federazione Italiana Lawn Tennis (FILT). Having expanded its remit in January 2023 to include padel, beach tennis and pickleball, the federation is positioning itself as a comprehensive governing body for all racket sports, not just traditional tennis .

The shift to grass is particularly symbolic. While Italy’s success has historically been rooted in the slow, grinding nature of clay, the ability to host and win on grass—as evidenced by Sinner’s 2025 triumph—shows a diversification of the Italian game. The 2028 tournament will be a testament to this new versatility.

Strategic Impact on Players and Fans

• Player Preparation: Top athletes gain a high-level competitive environment to refine their grass-court game before the Wimbledon championships.
• Fan Access: Potentially moving the event to a venue like San Siro would democratize access to elite tennis, moving it from private clubs to massive public arenas.
• Economic Growth: Hosting multiple “Large Event” tournaments (ATP Finals, Davis Cup, and now a grass tuneup) increases sports tourism and sponsorship opportunities within Italy.

As the FITP moves toward the 2028 launch, the focus will shift to the technical challenges of the project. Installing a professional-grade grass court within a soccer stadium requires immense precision in drainage, soil composition, and maintenance—challenges that Binaghi believes are surmountable given the precedents set in other European capitals.

The next confirmed milestone for the project will be the finalization of the venue and the official announcement of the tournament’s name and specific dates as the 2028 season approaches. Until then, the tennis world will be watching to see if the San Siro becomes the unlikely home for one of the most critical tuneups in the sport.

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