The Italian Tennis Federation is pushing to establish a fifth Grand Slam tournament, reportedly offering $550 million to acquire the Madrid Open from its current owners, IMG.
Traditionally, the tennis calendar features four Grand Slams—the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.
However, Italy’s federation is aiming to add another, leveraging the Madrid tournament’s slot on the schedule to create a major event of its own.
Both the Madrid Open and the Italian Open are played back-to-back in the spring, serving as key ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 events ahead of the French Open.
The proposal raises scheduling challenges, as two Grand Slams on clay within a month would be unprecedented.
Italy’s rising status in the tennis world adds weight to the proposal. Jannik Sinner has dominated the men’s circuit, winning both hard-court Grand Slams and becoming the first Italian major champion since Flavia Pennetta in 2015.
On the women’s side, Jasmine Paolini has climbed into the top six, while Italy has also triumphed in the last two Davis Cup finals and the latest Billie Jean King Cup.
The federation’s ambition is further reflected in its infrastructure investments. For this year’s Italian Open, three new courts are being built, including the 6,500-seat Supertennis Arena, set to be the second-largest venue after Campo Centrale.
While the idea of a fifth Grand Slam is still in its early stages, Italy’s aggressive move signals its intent to reshape the sport’s biggest stage.
