PERUGIA/STARNBERG, May 27, 2026
The countdown is almost over for the 11th edition of the Internazionali di Tennis Città di Perugia | G.I.Ma. Tennis Cup, with the ATP Challenger 125 tournament set to take place from May 31 to June 7 at the Tennis Club Perugia. Organized by MEF Tennis Events, the prestigious clay-court tournament will once again feature a strong field led by Italians Andrea Pellegrino and Matteo Arnaldi, alongside several other home players, while the official wildcard announcements are still to come.
The presentation press conference was held in the Sala Rossa of Palazzo dei Priori in Perugia and attended by local authorities, sports officials, tournament organizers and representatives from the Italian Tennis Federation.
Perugia mayor Vittoria Ferdinandi emphasized the importance of the tournament for the city and the wider region.
“We are not only talking about a major sporting event, but also about an important international showcase for a city like ours, which knows how to tell its story and identity,” Ferdinandi said. “This tournament is also extremely valuable at a time when Perugia is preparing its candidacy to become a European City of Sport. Sport represents respect for rules, respect for opponents and respect for oneself, values that are essential for communities and young people.”
Tournament director and former World No. 21 Francesco Cancellotti highlighted the continued growth of the event and the quality of the 2026 entry list.
“This tournament has grown continuously over the years, driven by the incredible results Italian tennis continues to achieve internationally,” Cancellotti explained. “We already have a very strong entry list, but we hope to add the proverbial icing on the cake with the wildcards, which will depend on what happens at Roland Garros.”
Marcello Marchesini, CEO of MEF Tennis Events, underlined the importance of moving the tournament one week earlier to coincide with the second week of the French Open.
“We have been working with the ATP for years to move the event forward by seven days, which now allows us to overlap with the second week of Roland Garros,” Marchesini said. “This will give the tournament even greater exposure, starting with television coverage on SuperTennis TV and DAZN. Events like this are extremely valuable for the visibility and promotion of both the city and the entire Umbria region.”
The tournament continues to hold a special place within the local sporting community. Tennis Club Perugia president Luigi Grafas described the event as “part of the city itself,” while Umbria regional FITP president Maurizio Mencaroni called it “the flagship tournament of our region.”
The 2026 edition will also include a strong focus on youth engagement through the “Grifo Champions Lab – Feed Your Talent” project, organized in collaboration with sponsor Gruppo Grifo. Around 400 students from schools in Perugia will attend dedicated days at the tournament, where they will meet professional players, take part in sports activities and discussions, and gain insight into the world of professional tennis.
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