Italy to reign as tennis Ground Zero

Reigning Davis Cup champion Italy will become sacred ground for tennis through this decade after Monday’s confirmation as the next host venue for the worldwide team competition.

The ITF announced that the tournament finals will be staged from 2025 to 2027 after a recent run in Spain.

The country which boasts world No. 1 Jannik Sinner will begin a three-week run next autumn with the six-day Finals being played in Bologna.

“We are thrilled to have been selected as hosts and look forward to welcoming the best teams in the world to our country next November and for the next three years,” Italian federation boss Angelo Binaghi said in a statement.

“Italy first competed in the Davis Cup nearly 100 years ago and is proud to have lifted the iconic Davis Cup trophy three times as World Champions. 

The FITP will build on Italy’s heritage in this competition, working closely with the ITF to deliver a spectacular event for the fans, as well as build an even greater future for tennis’ great global team asset.”

Cementing the country’s new status as global tennis headquarters was the announcement last month of an extension to the ATP Finals contract.

A fifth edition of the men’s season-ender will be played in Turin, with a not-so-secret switch over the coming half decade to a new stadium in Milan, being constructed in time for the 2026 Winter Olympics.