The president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP) confirmed that he is willing to step aside after admitting that the future venue of the ATP Finals is still to be confirmed.
Angelo Binaghi is the first person to have served three or more terms in charge of his country’s tennis federation, having been in office since 2001. He is a key figure in the sport following the rise of success among Italian players in recent years, with there currently being 12 singles players ranked in the top 100 – nine on the ATP Tour and three on the WTA Tour.
On Thursday, it was confirmed that Turin will continue hosting the year-end men’s tournament until 2026. However, beyond that is uncertain due to a change in the law, which could restrict the federation’s control.
“It’s upsetting that this is happening during the greatest moment in the history of Italian tennis,” Binaghi said in reference to Jannik Sinner’s Wimbledon win. “But we will do everything we can to keep the tournament here.”
The issue concerns a proposed law which could have an impact on how the finals are managed. Italy’s government wants to introduce a technical and management commission for the ATP Finals that will consist of the FITP and Sport e Salute, which is an organisation controlled by the government. The issue is that when the Finals were awarded to Italy by the ATP, its contract was with the FITP only. Now, the ATP might have to deal with a new body that is government-related, raising the question of the possibility of political influence occurring.
Andrea Gaudenzi, who is the ATP’s CEO, has already written a letter seeking clarification. Meanwhile, Binaghi has confirmed he will walk away from his position if there are doubts over his management.
“If the problem is my vision of what the Italian Tennis Federation should be in the world—because I believe it’s an asset for the country to have a Federation for such a large, rich, and universal sport, capable of competing with all the giants at the global level, not only in the technical sector but also in the organizational sector—if this vision isn’t shared, well, it’s right that someone else should try, because I don’t know any other way to interpret the mandate my clubs have given me to continue to enhance what I manage,” Binaghi said earlier this week.
“I want to win. If they ask me to lose or draw, I’m not capable; someone else should do it.
“I believe that in all things there should be a beginning and an end. I thought about it after the Wimbledon final, that if there should be a moment to leave tennis, which has been my life, this is unquestionably the best moment. We have won everything.
“If the problem is my vision, my mandate is completely available should the need arise to close out my twenty-five-year experience. So, if necessary, I would step aside.”
Last November, Gaudenzi confirmed Italy has been named as host of the Tour finals for another five years until 2030 without specifying the venue. Turin Mayor Stefano Lo Russo is hoping to keep the event in his city until that term ends. However, this goal depends on many factors, including whether the government approves their decree regarding Sport e Salute.
This year’s ATP Finals will begin on November 9th.