Tennis could introduce ‘fifth Grand Slam’ as ambitious £436m bid is tabled to transform popular tournament
TENNIS could introduce a so-called “fifth Grand Slam”, according to shock reports.
It is claimed the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP) have launched a staggering £436million ($55m) bid to try and buy out a rival tournament from Madrid.
Italy host one of the nine Masters 1000 events in Rome each May – the highest level below the four Grand Slams.
Spain have the Mutua Madrid Masters directly before the Italian Open with the final in 2025 on May 4, two weeks before the Rome final on May 18.
But the FITP apparently dream of acquiring the week in the tennis calendar currently occupied by Madrid to expand the Internazionali BNL d’Italia to a two-week tournament plus qualifying and prep days.
While many of the Masters events have been extended from a week to ten-day tournaments, only the four Grand Slams – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open – are full fortnights.
But La Stampa via Ubitennis in Italy report the FITP formally offered nearly half £1billion to IMG, who own and run the controversial Madrid Masters.
A review last year confirmed IMG may look to sell one of its events, with the management company also having the Miami Open.
It is said to be a “dream” for the Italian tennis authorities to make their flagship clay-court event into a “fifth major”.
However, the FITP’s ambitious plan is understood to be highly unlikely and looks set to fall flat – especially as the clay-court Major, the French Open, starts later in May.
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Tennis in Italy is enjoying a boom with the success of world No1 Jannik Sinner – despite his three-month doping ban – plus ten more men inside the top 100 and Jasmine Paolini flying the flag for the women.
The country won both the men’s Davis Cup and the women’s Billie Jean King Cup in 2024 and will host the Davis Cup Finals later this year.
Tennis stars’ new careers
PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring.
But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best…
- I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun
- I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B
- I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer
- I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend
- I’m last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I’m singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts
- I’m former world No1 but quit aged 29 – instead I went on to play professional poker and golf
- I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist
The ATP Finals also moved from London’s O2 Arena to Turin in 2021 and will remain in Italy until 2030.
The Italian Open also reportedly want to make significant improvements to the site in Rome with the construction of a new stadium.
A new ‘SuperTennis Arena’ could incorporate three courts – with one surrounded by 6,500 seats and space for 700 fans on the other two.