EXCLUSIVE: FITP President Angelo Binaghi: "The Italian Open 2023 a record edition"

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The president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation Angelo Binaghi has kindly granted an exclusive interview for Tennis World, talking about many interesting topics. Starting with the great success of the 2023 edition of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the eminent role of tennis in Italian sport and the future of the Game, between the legendary Fab Four and new young stars, such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune.

The 2023 edition of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia was a new success. Did you expect all this warmth and participation from the crowd, who braved even the bad weather to be present at the Foro Italico?

"The pre-sale data indicated a record influx, as it actually was, and despite unprecedented adverse weather conditions.

At certain times, it was surprising and exciting to see so many people on our courts, even the secondary ones, regardless of the rain and the constant interruptions, moved by a great passion. Let's start from this image to prepare another record-breaking edition in 2024, if the weather will be just a bit more clement."

FITP is doing a great work, between the organization of Rome and the ATP Finals in Turin: can it currently be considered the most virtuous and sustainable example within Italian sport?

"The success of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia is a perfect picture of the state of health of our movement, of the extraordinary effects that our events now generate on the territory and of the benefits that the State derives from them.

We are talking about an event organized without public money, which this year has generated an economic impact of around half a billion euros, guaranteeing the State coffers a hundred million in tax revenue. These are numbers that no other sporting event in Italy can guarantee today."

In Rome it was played for the first time after the retirement of Roger Federer and Serena Williams.

Yet the enthusiasm of the crowd has made us forget the absence of these two great champions (and Rafael Nadal).

Was there any fear before the tournament, due to their absence?

"Absolutely not.

The passion of the crowd now goes beyond the individual presences of the best players on the Tourt. Of course, probably Nadal's participation would have given a further boost to the box office, and the same would have guaranteed, during the tournament, a path extended by Jannik Sinner.

I am convinced that he will do it again next year."

Can you give us some details on the future coverage of the Central Court at the Foro Italico?

"Sport e Salute (Sport and Health - ed.) the partner with whom we have successfully organized the IBI for years, is called to provide the details of this operation that we have been waiting for a decade. I hope that the difficult experience lived this year will really speed up the process.

They assure us that the 2026 edition of the tournament will be played in a new Central Centre, more spacious and, finally, covered. Let's trust them."

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune. Are they the next Big Three? Can they really trace the careers of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal?

"I don't know, I think the Fab Four (including Andy Murray) are unrepeatable, but the new generation promises very well and we are proud that our Jannik is among the most talented.

I said it and I repeat it: the Federation has worked successfully to bring Italian tennis back to the world elite, now we are just missing a great success of ours, but we are close."

Photo Credits: Pic by FITP website