Could the Italian Open have a chance of becoming the fifth Grand Slam?
The Italian Tennis Federation (FITP) has made an ambitious offer of $550 million to get the Italian Open recognised as the fifth Grand Slam. Italy has had a decade of great tennis achievements, with new players emerging. Jannik Sinner has marked himself as the top player of Italy by winning the Australian Open two times.
Lorenzo Musetti won the country’s first Olympic gold medal, while Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani made history by winning gold together. In light of these achievements, the Italian Tennis Federation plans to raise the status of the Rome Masters 1000 tournament.
FITP’s proposal
The FITP has made an offer of $550 million to replace the Madrid Masters 1000 tournament. The plan would see the Rome Masters transformed into a two-week event, giving it the status of an unofficial “fifth Grand Slam”. Plans call for improvements and expansion of Rome’s Foro Italico complex, including a new ‘Supertennis Arena’ with a capacity of 6,500 spectators and two additional courts capable of accommodating around 700 spectators each.
Existing Grand Slams overview
| Debut Edition | Grand Slam | Highest Winner in Men’s Singles | Highest Winner in Women’s Singles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | Australian Open | Novak Djokovic (10) | Margaret Court (11) |
| 1925 | Roland Garros | Rafael Nadal (14) | Chris Evert (7) |
| 1877 | Wimbledon | Roger Federer (8) | Martina Navratilova (9) |
| 1881 | US Open | Bill Tilden, Richard Sears, William Larned (7) | Molla Mallory (8) |
Challenges
The biggest challenge in becoming the fifth Grand Slam is the close dates. The Italian Open usually starts on May 7, while Roland Garros starts on May 25. Both tournaments are played on clay courts, making the difference between them unclear.
If the Italian Tennis Federation meets the highest standards, this move could in the future lead to the Italian Open being recognised as the fifth Grand Slam.
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