ROMA (ITALPRESS) – “Today begins a new era of Italian tennis, without Nicola Pietrangeli and Lea Pericoli. We leave from their inheritance, which allowed us to have a solid foundation on which to refound the movement”. Angelo Binaghi, president of Fitp, raises the curtain on the 83rd edition of the Italian International, scheduled from 28 April to 17 May at the Italic Forum. The great goal of 2026 is to bring an Italian to win in Rome after 50 years, with Adriano Panatta champion in 1976: “We would like to try to win the singular male, I think it is the right time not only for what managed to do Jannik Sunday but also because we have four players in Top 20”, says Binaghi, who insists on the fifth Slam front in Rome: “I will try them all. As a live leader for this and I will live until the last day of my experience with the hope of doing the business. I would like to address as soon as possible the feasibility study of such an operation and of what would be in the sports field the most profitable initiative for the State”. Already record numbers are those of Italian tennis, including sold-out tickets, growing cards and increased listening.
“The numbers are the representation of reality – continues Binaghi – We have a ticket above last year’s record. Year by year we have an increase of 8% and we have already sold 220.98 thousand tickets and we trust to exceed 400 thousand units. SuperTennis’ listening grew by 69% and the members, which represent a small part of the practitioners, are also growing. The turnover of 243.459.985,00 euro is the highest figure in the history of Italian sport. No one today in Italy is able to collect – as a percentage – resources like our federation”. Also announce wild cards for the male and female board. Directly on the main draw Matteo Berrettini, Luca Nardi, Matteo Arnaldi, Federico Cinà and Mattia Bellucci, whose wild card could go to Francesco Maestrelli if he were able to enter the board with the Atp ranking. To the female wild card for Martina Trevisan, Tyra Grant, Lucia Bronzetti, Lucrezia Stefanini, Nuria Brancaccio, Lisa Pigato and Jennifer Ruggeri. Present at the press conference also Roberto Gualtieri, mayor of Rome, Andrea Abodi, minister for Sport and young people, and Marco Mezzaroma, president of Sport and Health.
“It’s an extraordinary moment for tennis, we all performed for Sinner’s success on Sunday. It is a moment of great euphoria in the country and in the city of Rome. Fitp numbers are important and give the sense of sports sharing. I think it’s a growing situation,” says Gualtieri. “It grows through the multiplication of sports events: we supported the Atp Finals and will continue to support the finals of the Davis Cup. We will bring back to Italy the Next Gen Finals. We have conquered the trust of the Atp, Wta and Itf. We hope to host the Billie Jean King Cup finals,” adds Abodi. Less than a month from the start of the main tabellone (6 May), the Italian Internationals will enter alive from 28 April with the prequalifications.
– photo mec/Italpress –
(ITALPRESS).
