Rome risks losing its prestigious tennis event, the Italian Open, according to Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian tennis federation unless city council releases funds for the remodernisation of the tennis centre at Foro Italico.

At present the Italian Open, held at the centrally located Foro Italico in May each year, is among the eight top international events on the main tennis circuit. However if tennis facilities are not improved in Rome the event could be moved to either Milan or Turin.

The plan for the new tennis stadium, approved by the former mayor Walter Veltroni, has a main tennis court with places for 10,000 spectators, a stipulation for top tennis events. The Italian Olympic committee, CONI, has agreed to give