You can call me a traditionalist. The bottom line is there should only be four grand slam events in the great sport of tennis. According to Andrew Dampf of the Associated Press, the Italian Open organizers want to make the Italian Open a fifth grand slam.
One of the arguments at this time by the organizers is because of Italy’s great success over the last year. Italy won the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup in the fall. Then in 2025, Italy’s Jannik Sinner won the Australian Open, and Jasmine Paolini won the Italian Open. However, in my opinion a short time period of individual success in one nation’s tennis history should not factor into a nation’s opportunity to host a grand slam title. In the recent past Canada has had great tennis success, but I do not hear of any discussion of the National Bank Open being a major.
There is another issue right now with time. It would be extremely demanding on the players to have two majors in a short period of time from one another. There is only one week separation right now between the Italian Open and French Open.
There is also the issue of whether or not if other significant events should be given major status too. Is it time for Asia to have a major? China is a tennis crazy nation at this time with significant events in Wuhan, Shanghai and Beijing. What about Indian Wells, as their center court is one of the biggest stadiums in the world? At this time, I strongly support the status quo, and that tennis stays with four majors.
