Rafa Nadal had just won his second Roland Garros, Roger Federer would soon be making a four-peat at Wimbledon. Novak Djokovic was on his way to his first ATP title, while Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz had yet to take their first steps on the tennis courts.
How tennis has changed since 2006. But the Aspria Tennis Cup-BCS Trophy is still here, ready to turn 20 and do so in style. Twenty editions, considering the 2020 edition was cancelled due to Covid: a significant milestone that positions the Milan ATP Challenger among the unmissable events of the tennis summer.
From June 28th to July 5th
Tradition and innovation intersect on the clay courts of the Aspria Harbour Club on Via Cascina Bellaria, for a tournament that over its two decades of existence has managed to modernize and adapt to changing times, carving out a prestigious place in the international calendar and hosting great champions such as Sinner, Cobolli, Auger-Aliassime, Jodar, and Prizmic (protagonists of last year’s edition).
This year, anticipation is even higher. The tournament, from June 28th to July 5th, coincides with the start of Wimbledon: this will allow Milan to regain the segment of players who usually frequent the Challenger world, those ranked between 100th and 200th, no longer “occupied” by the London Grand Slam qualifiers.
Television coverage is also strong, with the final on Sunday, July 5th broadcast live by SuperTennis and the entire tournament available for live streaming on Challenger TV.
The 20th edition
The 2026 Aspria Tennis Cup – BCS Trophy was presented at the Aspria Harbour Club on Via Cascina Bellaria in Milan, hosted by Carlo Annovazzi. Roberta Minardi, General Manager of the Aspria Harbour Club, hosted the event: “This is the twentieth edition, and we’re celebrating a porcelain wedding anniversary with Makers, who has always organized the tournament with great satisfaction. It’s a moment of celebration for tennis but also a moment of inspiration for children, who every year get to see the great athletes we host at the club.”
Federica Picchi, Undersecretary for Sport & Youth of the Lombardy Region, who renewed her significant support for the event’s organization this year, stated: “We have supported this event for years; it’s an important event, also internationally. Many important names have passed through here, and it’s wonderful to see how we’re able to capture and nurture these young talents. This club and this tournament are truly a source of excellence for our region and a source of wealth for Lombardy and Italy as a whole.”
“The world of tennis continues to achieve extraordinary results, with an increasing number of players, so we urge you to work even harder on young players. May Milan and Lombardy continue to be a region of excellence,” said Marco Riva, President of CONI Lombardia.
Roberto Recalcati of FITP Lombardia was also present: “I am well aware of the difficulties involved in running a tournament like this. Italy is one of the nations that organizes the highest number of Challenger tournaments, allowing our players to play at home and avoid long and costly travel.”
Cavaliere Giuseppe Fumagalli, President of BCS and title sponsor of the tournament, said: “I am very pleased to celebrate this twentieth anniversary together; longevity has always been part of our corporate philosophy. Relationships with our customers are always very long-lasting, with great satisfaction from everyone. The secret to this longevity is innovation; we constantly bring new products and services, and this is one of the hallmarks of this tournament, which innovates every year, proposing new formats both in the sporting arena and in its collateral events.”
Also at the speakers’ table was Martina Riva, Councillor for Sport, Tourism and Youth Policies for the City of Milan: “This tournament is special because it connects future champions with the youth of our city, creating a link between top-level sport and grassroots sport.”
Among the partners present was Febal Casa, with Erika D’Amico (Brand & Communication Director): “Febal Casa, a Colombini Group brand, is one of the leading furniture companies in Italy and internationally. This is our first year, and we hope this collaboration will last. We embrace the cause and tennis, which represents our values deeply. We share a love of organization and care.” Patrizia Aste, CEO of Norqain: “We are proud of this collaboration with the club and the tournament. Our ambassador is Stan Wawrinka, and we will work hard to bring him here in the future.” Nicolò Di Leo, CEO of Voyage: “We organize group trips, offering high-level comfort and organization. We look forward to seeing you all and wish you all good tennis.”
Carlo Alagna, president of Makers, the company that has organized the tournament since its inception, concluded: “These have been 20 years of great satisfaction, an exhilarating journey. In the early days, tennis wasn’t as popular as it is today. There were some tough years, but now tennis is perceived differently by everyone, both fans and companies. For our 20th anniversary, we wanted to present a rich program of initiatives, a new logo, a packed agenda of cultural and wellness events, and many opportunities to connect with our partners. Furthermore, there will be Corporate Hospitality to experience the tournament at a higher level and enjoy the spectacle of tennis from courtside—a unique experience. Finally, the last of the gifts is Giorgio Tarantola, who has held every role in the world of tennis and is this year’s Organizing Director of the tournament.”
Organizing Director Giorgio Tarantola concluded: “In addition to tennis, there’s also room for social initiatives: on the day of the semifinals, wheelchair exhibitions and blind tennis, dedicated to the visually impaired, are scheduled. To understand the importance of challenger tournaments, you have to look back: last year we had a semifinal between Jodar and Prizmic, who now play on the most prestigious courts in the world. Here, you can see players up close who would otherwise be impossible to see under normal conditions.”
At the end of the press conference, the traditional planting of an olive tree in the club’s garden was revived, a particularly heartfelt event this year as a symbol of longevity.
The Champions on the Court
Leading the list of players admitted to the main draw is Argentine Francisco Comesana, ranked No. 89 in the ATP rankings. Then there are several former top-100 players, such as Dusan Lajovic (a finalist in Monte Carlo in 2019 and defeated by our own Fognini), Nikoloz Basilashvili (already ranked No. 16 in the world), and Hugo Dellien. The latter is also part of the quartet of former winners who will return to Milan to try again for the title: alongside him, Federico Gomez, Facundo Diaz Acosta, and Marco Cecchinato.
Italy will be strong represented at the 2026 Aspria Tennis Cup – BCS Trophy. Joining Marco Cecchinato, reigning champion in Milan and two-time winner on the Milanese clay courts, are his compatriots Luca Nardi, Francesco Passaro, Stefano Travaglia, and Jacopo Vasamì, the latter a standout in 2025 with a splendid semifinal and the most anticipated name for the future. The tournament’s first wild cards have also been awarded: Pierluigi Basile and Filippo Romano, assigned by the Federation, and a third invitation will be decided by Makers in the coming days.
Tickets on sale
The entry list for the 2026 Aspria Tennis Cup – BCS Trophy promises a great show and eight days of top-level tennis. Therefore, fans can already reserve a seat in the stands at the Aspria Harbour Club on Via Cascina Bellaria: tickets, including for the new Hospitality Area, are on sale through Ticketone. Alternatively, a ticket office will open at the club starting July 1st. From Sunday, June 28th to Tuesday, June 30th, admission will be free.
Partners
The 20th edition of the ATP Challenger Milan promises to be a record-breaking event, thanks to the partners and sponsors who have decided to support the tournament’s organization: title sponsor BCS, Febal Casa, Norqain, Mood, and Co.Ver.Lit. Srl, Imoon, Carol, KoRo, Equistasi, Numero Blu, Motta, Fineco, EA7, Metro 5, Eglue, Vimex, Non solo giardini, Powerade, CDI, Vivay, Shark|Ninja, Forte Village, Rummo, ApenGroup, Ecolife Milano, Head, Supertennis, We4Show, FIT Summer Camps, Profineco, Woyage, Ercole, Passione Pizzeria, Food Writers, Felmoka, Latteria Sorrentina, Monsupello, Pizza a Teatro, Don’t call me Base, Poke&Go, Gruppo Felsineo. Special thanks to Lombarda Motori, the sole contact for transportation services, and Melià Hotel for accommodations.
