The ATP calendar is set for another change as the ATP Brussels tournament is expected to relocate to Milan starting in 2028, according to reports.
The new event in Milan will reportedly be an ATP 250 tournament played on grass courts during the week following the French Open. The move would add another tournament to Italy’s rapidly expanding tennis calendar while also strengthening the grass-court swing ahead of Wimbledon.
Italy’s Growing Influence in Tennis
Reports indicate that the Italian Tennis Federation purchased the rights to the ATP 250 event currently held in Brussels in a deal worth more than $24 million, with the ATP also retaining a 10% stake in the event. The move was spearheaded by Italian Tennis Federation president Angelo Binaghi with financial backing from a Dubai-based company.
Binaghi is also pushing for the tournament to be upgraded to ATP 500 status just a few seasons after its launch in Milan. If successful, the promotion would further elevate Italy’s already strong presence on the ATP Tour calendar.
The country currently hosts the Italian Open in Rome, one of the ATP’s Masters 1000 events. Italy also holds the hosting rights for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, as well as the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna.
Italian Players Driving the Surge
Italy’s growth in tennis also mirrors its success on the court, led by World No. 2 Jannik Sinner. While Sinner currently leads the charge, several other Italian players have contributed to the country’s growing strength in the sport. Jasmine Paolini, Lorenzo Musetti, Flavio Cobolli, and the doubles team of Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani have all played roles in establishing Italy as one of the leading forces in tennis today.
With another tournament potentially arriving in one of the nation’s premier cities in 2028, Italy’s influence on the global tennis landscape looks set to continue expanding.
Main Photo Credit: Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
