Italian Tennis Federation Table Audacious £436m Bid to ‘Buy’ the Madrid Open and Establish ‘Fifth Grand Slam’

The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation have reportedly tabled a sensational bid to ‘buy out’ a chunk of the tennis calendar currently occupied by the Madrid Open, and effectively position themselves as the ‘fifth Grand Slam’.

Italian Tennis Federation Look to Establish Rome Masters as ‘Fifth Grand Slam’

Sensational reports claim there could be a seismic shake-up to the tennis calendar’s traditional events, with the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP) eyeing an daring push to extend the Italian Open.

The Italian Open – held annually in Rome – is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, placing it among the most prestigious events on the Tour.

Beyond April’s Monte Carlo Masters, the Italian Open is nestled in the middle of the clay swing and typically falls immediately after another Masters 1000 event in the Spanish capital of Madrid.

This year’s Mutua Madrid Masters final is scheduled for May 4th, which is two weeks before the final in Rome on May 18th.

For context, the vast majority of tournaments on the Tour typically last for a week, with a select few of the more prestigious events extending to 10-day tournaments.

Only the four Grand Slams have schedules stretching across a two-week period.

However, the FITP have lofty ambitions of transforming the Rome Masters into the first non-Slam two-week event, and effectively establishing it as the ‘fifth Grand Slam’.

Ubitennis in Italy claim the FITP formally offered £436m to IMG; the event organisers who own and operate the Madrid Masters.

A review last year revealed IMG may auction off one of their events, with the Miami Open also one of the management company’s headline tournaments.

The FITP’s expansion also includes plans to extend the infrastructure in Rome, with a three-court ‘SuperTennis Arena’ and over 7,000 extra seats being sounded out.

Of course, labelling a tournament as a ‘fifth Grand Slam’ is somewhat of a misnomer unless its ATP points haul matches that of the traditional four, which is 2000 points for the champion.

By all s, the FITP’s dream of expanding its flagship tournament will fall flat, especially given the French Open also gets underway in May.

Italy’s profile in tennis is booming at this moment in time, with three-time Grand Slam champion Jannik Sinner – in spite of his world number one.

The nation will host the David Cup finals later in 2025 as reigning champions and have secured the ATP Finals in Turin until 2030.