London, 27 June 2025 – In anticipation of the official opening of the Wimbledon tournament, the Italian Embassy in London hosted the event “Great Italian Tennis: Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup on the Eve of Wimbledon” on 27 June. The initiative celebrated the recent successes of Italian tennis and the value of sport as a tool for cultural diplomacy and the promotion of Italy’s national image abroad.
Following the official institutional greetings, the event unfolded in three main segments. First, the Hon. Chiara Appendino, Vice President of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP), spoke about the role of the FITP in the development and international success of Italian tennis. Next, Paolo Bertolino, President of the Museum of Rackets, presented a historical overview of the evolution of tennis rackets through the story of the Wimbledon tournament.
During the event, two pre-recorded video messages were also shown from the coaches of the Italian men’s and women’s national teams, Filippo Volandri and Tathiana Garbin. They recounted the major Italian victories of 2023–2024, which culminated in winning the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.
The event was moderated by RAI journalist and correspondent Emilio Mancuso.
The evening was attended by some of the leading figures in Italian tennis, including Davide Sanguinetti and Mattia Bellucci, as well as prominent coaches, athletic trainers, and key managers such as Simone Tartarini (coach of Lorenzo Musetti), Alessandro Petrone (coach of Matteo Arnaldi), and Alessandro Bega (coach of Matteo Berrettini).
Earlier that same day, the exhibition “History and Chronology of Tennis Legend” was inaugurated at the headquarters of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom. The exhibition features a selection of historic rackets from the Museum of Rackets, founded and curated by Paolo Bertolino.
The organization of the exhibition is supported by the Consulate General of Italy in London and the ICE Office in the British capital, as part of Italy’s integrated promotion strategy in the United Kingdom. This initiative aims to showcase Italy’s cultural heritage and talent on the international stage through the power of sport.
