MAYOR FERDINANDI: “THE COMMUNITY IS GROWING WITH TENNIS”
MARCHESINI: “THE DATE CHANGE IS REWARDING US. THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE VIEWED ON SUPERTENNIS AND DAZN”
Perugia, May 26, 2026 – The wait for the start of the eleventh edition of the Perugia International Tennis Tournament | G.I.Ma. Tennis Cup is almost over, with the Challenger 125 scheduled for May 31st to June 7th now ready to begin. The event, organized by MEF Tennis Events at the Perugia Tennis Club, features Andrea Pellegrino and Matteo Arnaldi, as well as numerous other Italian players, while the wild card announcements are awaited, adding to an already impressive technical level. The press conference presenting the tournament, held in the Sala Rossa of the Palazzo dei Priori in Perugia, was attended by the Mayor of Perugia, Vittoria Ferdinandi; the President of the Perugia Tennis Club, Luigi Grafas; the President of FITP Umbria, Maurizio Mencaroni; the FITP National Councilor, Roberto Carraresi; the President of CONI Umbria, Fabio Moscatelli; the Tournament Director, Francesco Cancellotti; and the Sole Director of MEF Tennis Events, Marcello Marchesini.
Mayor Ferdinandi: “Our city in an international showcase” – Mayor Vittoria Ferdinandi, also bringing official greetings on behalf of Sports Councilor Pierluigi Vossi, extended special thanks to Marcello Marchesini for his dedication, which has enabled eleven years of growth for the tournament and its image. “A ‘sports house’ has been made available for this event, which for my generation has represented a community of values, a training ground for meetings and relationships, not just a breeding ground for talent,” said the mayor. “We’re not just talking about a major sporting event, but also an important international showcase for a city like ours, which knows how to express its identity. It will therefore be a valuable opportunity to promote the area and increase its tourist appeal. For us, the Città di Perugia International Tennis Tournament | G.I.Ma. Tennis Cup is even more precious at a time when we are preparing to submit Perugia’s candidacy for European City of Sport. If we can do this, it is thanks to those who believe in fundamental events, like this team that for eleven years has championed the value of sport, so essential for communities and young people because it involves respect for the rules, for the opponent, and for the body.”
Wild cards still to be revealed – While we wait for fans and players to begin filling the city of Perugia, the organizers are working to announce the wild cards that will complete the roster for the 2026 edition. “This event has been a constant crescendo, driven by a movement that has achieved and continues to achieve incredible results in international tennis,” explained tournament director and former world number 21, Francesco Cancellotti. “We have a very impressive entry list, but we hope to put the proverbial icing on the cake with the wild cards, which will depend on what happens at Roland Garros. As always, we expect a great turnout from the public in the beautiful setting of the Perugia Tennis Club, which is the envy of everyone.” For Marcello Marchesini, sole director of MEF Tennis Events, the opening conference is also a deeply emotional moment: “I must thank not only the Mayor and the entire Municipality of Perugia for their continued tremendous support, but also all our partners, who have loyally supported us for years. We’ve been talking to the ATP for years, asking them to move the event forward by seven days so that it coincides with the second week of the Paris Grand Slam. This will allow us to gain even greater visibility, starting with television; this year, we’ll be available to watch on SuperTennis TV (Channel 64 on digital terrestrial and 212 on Sky) and DAZN. An event of this kind is especially beneficial for the immediate visibility it will bring to the city and the entire region. We will work hard, as always, to ensure everything is executed flawlessly.”
“A tournament that has become a symbol” – The Perugia International Tennis Tournament | G.I.Ma. Tennis Cup continues to be a key event for the area, as underscored by the speeches of the sports institutions present at the presentation conference. “This tournament has become an integral part of the city, and we are truly proud of this. I will never stop thanking MEF Tennis Events for their trust in us; we are proud to be, in a sense, the engine of this increasingly powerful engine,” said the president of the Perugia Tennis Club, Luigi Grafas. The president of the Umbria Regional Committee, Maurizio Mencaroni, also attended the presentation event: “We consider this event the flagship of all our tournaments due to its technical caliber and prestige. This is my first time as president of the Regional Committee, and I can only say it’s a special feeling, as I’ve seen tennis in Umbria grow over the years.” Fabio Moscatelli, the newly elected president of CONI Umbria, also spoke during the day: “When you reach these levels, it’s no longer a sporting event but a true tradition. This tournament has become part of our community’s life, and on a personal level, I also have many memories linked to the Perugia Tennis Club, an absolute point of reference for the citizens, now as then. It will be an intense week, in the wake of the great moment that tennis is experiencing in Italy.”
Perugia schools will be guests at the International Tennis Tournament – Students from several schools in the city will be guests at the 2026 edition of the Perugia International Tennis Tournament | G.I.Ma. Tennis Cup, thanks to the “Grifo Champions Lab, Nourish Your Talent” project, created in collaboration with the sponsor Gruppo Grifo, represented at the conference by product marketing manager Maria Grazia Ligonzo. Specifically, a total of approximately 400 students will participate in two days dedicated to them, where they will be able to meet professional tennis players, engage in sports activities, and participate in interviews and discussions with players and industry professionals on the topics of talent and the future. The goal is to inspire young people to pursue their dreams and experience firsthand the most important tournament in the Umbria region and beyond.
Telethon is the tournament’s charity partner – The Perugia tournament confirms its support for the Telethon Foundation as the tournament’s Charity Partner, with the aim of promoting fundraising for research into rare genetic diseases. Thanks to the collaboration with the local representative Paolo Gallina, during the event, participants will be able to participate in a charity lottery that, with a donation to Telethon, will offer the chance to win two tickets to the tournament final.
The ticket office is now open on the official website – Reduced-price tickets and season tickets can be purchased on the official website, www.internazionaliperugia.it. For press accreditation requests, please send an email to credentials@meftennisevents.com.