ROME — High-ranked Jannik Sinner is dominating males’s tennis and Italy swept each the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup staff titles final yr.
Jasmine Paolini simply turned the primary house participant to win the Italian Open in 40 years and is about to maneuver as much as No. 4 within the ladies’s rankings.
Gamers like Lorenzo Musetti, Federico Cinà and Tyra Caterina Grant present the potential for Italy to dominate tennis for years to come back.
Nonetheless, Italian Tennis and Padel Federation president Angelo Binaghi desires extra. Rather more.
Binaghi has the grandiose goal to make the Italian Open a fifth Grand Slam event alongside the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open, upending a century of tennis historical past.
“In what different a part of society is there a monopoly that lasts for greater than 100 years?” Binaghi stated Sunday, the ultimate day of the Italian Open. “Why are there at all times 4 and at all times the identical 4? … It is completely unfair and does not assist tennis develop.”
The Italian Open is a Masters Sequence occasion that’s one rung under the Slams within the hierarchy of tennis tournaments. However the occasion on the Foro Italico now runs for 2 weeks just like the majors and is booming due to the successes of Sinner, Paolini and plenty of different Italian gamers.
Italy has additionally hosted the ATP Finals in Turin since 2021 and just lately prolonged its internet hosting contract for the year-ending event that includes the highest eight males’s gamers by way of 2030. Additionally, the Davis Cup Ultimate 8 will start a three-year run in Italy this November, beginning in Bologna.
“We’re now the world champion each on the courtroom and on the organizational degree,” Binaghi stated.
Earlier this yr, Binaghi expressed curiosity in buying the license for the Madrid Open, which instantly precedes Rome within the tennis calendar. The thought was that eliminating Madrid and making Rome greater may represent a fifth Slam.
“We must be attentive on the worldwide market and attempt to make the most of each alternative that arises, from the smallest ATP 250 all the best way as much as the most important tournaments,” Binaghi stated.
A request for remark despatched to the Grand Slam board, which represents the 4 majors, was not instantly answered.
Retractable Roof After years of delays, organizers introduced new plans to construct a retractable roof over the Italian Open’s essential stadium, Campo Centrale.
At a price of 60 million euros ($67 million), the roof is slated to be prepared for the 2028 event and also will lead to 2,000 further seats being added – growing the capability to 12,500.
Bigger grounds For this yr’s event, the occasion grounds on the Foro Italico had been elevated from 12 to twenty hectares (30 to 50 acres) and one other statue-lined competitors area was added.
The Stadio dei Marmi hosted three courts: a 3,000-seat area and two courts every that includes seating for 800.
The three,000-seat area turned the event’s third-largest present courtroom after Campo Centrale and the Grand Stand Enviornment, making the Pietrangeli courtroom – which additionally options an array of statues – the fourth largest.