Matches from July 16 to 20 at 5:30 PM. Tickets on sale from April 9.
BARI, April 3, 2025 – The atmosphere of major international tennis events can be felt in Bari, Puglia, starting with the press conference for the presentation of the Hopman Cup 2025, held today at the Grande Albergo delle Nazioni.
The prestigious mixed international tournament, with a 35-year history mostly spent in Australia, is coming to Bari for the first time in Italy. This decision was made jointly by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Tennium, the organizing company, both of which believed in Bari’s potential as the location for the 2025 edition.
The event will bring international champions to the city, including the players of Team Italy: Jasmine Paolini (currently Italy’s top-ranked female player, Billie Jean King Cup winner with Team Italy, and former world No. 4 in singles, the highest ranking ever reached by an Italian female player, alongside Francesca Schiavone) and Flavio Cobolli (who reached the final of the ATP 500 in Washington last year, climbing to world No. 30 in singles).
Divided into two groups, the mixed teams from France, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Canada, and Italy will take the court daily at 5:30 PM. The names of the players from the other teams will be officially announced soon, as excitement builds among tennis fans eagerly awaiting the ticket sales launch, scheduled for April 9.
The tournament kicks off on Wednesday, July 16, with Italy vs. Croatia, the reigning champions, followed by Greece vs. Spain and France vs. Croatia on July 17. On July 18, Italy will face France, and Canada will take on Spain. On July 19, Greece and Canada will compete. Finally, on Sunday, July 20, the much-anticipated final will take place to crown the winners of the prestigious trophy, which was last won by Team Croatia (Donna Vekić and Borna Ćorić) in 2023 in France. (The 2024 edition was not held due to the overlap with the Olympic Games.)
In addition to the thousands of spectators expected at the 10,000-square-meter tennis village—which will feature two courts surrounded by grandstands, as well as areas for dining, entertainment, and lounge spaces—the tournament will be broadcast live in its entirety on SuperTennis, the FITP’s TV channel (available on terrestrial and satellite HD, as well as online and mobile), which airs over eighty major international tournaments. The Hopman Cup has secured a prestigious and widely accessible broadcasting partner.
During the press conference, held in front of the iconic and coveted Hopman Cup trophy, previously lifted in victory by legends such as Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic (2018 and 2019), the speakers included (in order of appearance): Vito Leccese (Mayor of Bari), David Haggerty (President of the International Tennis Federation – ITF), Kristoff Puelinckx (CEO of Tennium), Iva Majoli (Tournament Director), Isidoro Alvisi (Vice President of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation – FITP), and Michele Emiliano (President of the Puglia Region).
Mayor Leccese opened the event by expressing his joy and pride: “I am thrilled and honored to host the Hopman Cup in Italy for the first time, with Bari chosen as the tournament venue. This event is an extraordinary opportunity for the city and our region, strengthening our sports tradition and enhancing Puglia’s international appeal.”
President Haggerty highlighted the long history of the Hopman Cup, expressing “great satisfaction in bringing this important event back to the global tennis stage. The Hopman Cup is a unique tournament in the calendar, appreciated by both players and fans, who I am sure will turn out in large numbers in Bari.”
CEO Puelinckx emphasized the significance of the location: “Special events need to take place in special places. And we immediately agreed that there is no better place than Puglia to host a uniquely formatted tournament like the Hopman Cup, especially in the heart of summer. It will be a true event, an experience to be enjoyed both on and off the court, with music, a fan zone, food areas, and lounge spaces.”
Tournament Director Majoli, who strongly advocated for Puglia as the venue, announced the two team groups (Group A: Canada, Greece, and Spain – Group B: Italy, France, and Croatia) before playing a video message from the Italian players in Miami, who expressed their eagerness to compete in Bari and their determination to win the 2025 edition.
President Emiliano concluded the conference with inspiring words: “Puglia is a land of courage. I must especially thank David, Kristoff, and Iva because, as in sports, they have taken a bold step forward. I also thank the Italian Tennis Federation, which has done work similar to that of the Puglia Region: understanding that success is not about luck, but about organizing and structuring the tennis movement. Isidoro was one of the visionaries behind this approach. The FITP’s achievements today result from work I would describe as ‘Pugliese’—built on relationships, passion, and people, not just financial aspects. Global sports rely on economics, but they thrive on passion. Since this is our ‘zero edition,’ we know there is much to do. A strong and united team effort will be crucial because we are working towards making the Hopman Cup a permanent event. This is as much a sporting challenge as it is an organizational one.”
