The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation has purchased the rights to an ATP 250-level tournament currently held in Brussels, with plans to relocate it to a grass-court event in June 2028. Federation president Angelo Binaghi confirmed the move, which aims to bolster Italy's presence ahead of Wimbledon. The decision follows Jannik Sinner's historic Wimbledon victory in 2025.
Jannik Sinner's triumph at Wimbledon in July 2025, where he became the first Italian man to win the title by defeating Carlos Alcaraz, has spurred Italy's tennis ambitions. The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation announced it has secured rights to the Brussels ATP 250 indoor hard-court event held in October. Starting in 2028, the tournament will shift to June on grass courts, positioning it in the lead-up to Wimbledon alongside events in Stuttgart, 's-Hertogenbosch, Mallorca, and Eastbourne. Early editions may follow the French Open or precede the major grass tournaments. Binaghi stated on Tuesday, “There’s still time to decide where to play it. For climate reasons, it will probably be held in northern Italy.” He referenced innovative venues like the Madrid Open's use of Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and suggested Milan's San Siro as a possibility. The deal involved a reported $24 million investment, with about 10% going to the ATP. Italy already hosts the Italian Open, the ATP Finals in Turin through 2030, and Davis Cup Finals through 2027. Tennis in the country has grown significantly, with 16.9 million fans, 1.25 million federation members, a $1.41 billion annual economic impact, and support for nearly 57,000 jobs. Federation leaders plan to upgrade the event to ATP 500 status over time, building on Milan's tennis history, including the Milan Indoor tournament won by Roger Federer in 2001 and past champions like Björn Borg and John McEnroe.
