PARMA LADIES OPEN PRESENTED BY IREN
BOSI: “A KEY EVENT FOR THE CITY”
SLAM CHAMPIONS KENIN AND KREJCIKOVA SIGN UP
Parma, May 5, 2026 – The sixth edition of the Parma Ladies Open presented by Iren, a WTA 125 tournament organized by MEF Tennis Events and Tennis Club Parma, scheduled for May 11-16, 2026, was presented in the Hall of Representation of the Municipal Residence. Twenty-one top-100 players in the world rankings will compete in the Emilian event, whose top-tier field is also dictated by its strategic location on the calendar, in the second week of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia and just days before the start of Roland Garros. The press conference was attended by Marco Bosi, Councilor for Sport for the City of Parma; Giacomo Malmesi, a member of the board of directors of Iren and president of Ireti; Giampiero Alinovi, president of the Parma Tennis Club; Gilberto Fantini, president of the FITP Emilia-Romagna committee; Roberta Frisoni, Councilor for Tourism, Sport, and Commerce of the Emilia-Romagna Region; Paolo Novati, General Manager of UniCredit Allianz Assicurazioni; Vittorio Andrea Vaccaro, Vice President of CONI Emilia-Romagna; and Marcello Marchesini, Sole Director of MEF Tennis Events.
Councilor Bosi’s enthusiasm – “Over the years, the Parma Ladies Open has become a key event for the city, combining high-level sport, promotion of the region, and international outreach,” stated Councilor for Sport Marco Bosi. This tournament brings top-level athletes to the city and enhances one of Parma’s historic sporting venues, the Parma Tennis Club. This result is the fruit of solid collaboration between institutions, organizers, and partners, demonstrating how continuous investment in sporting events generates opportunities, attractiveness, and participation. Events like this strengthen the city’s sporting identity and have a value that extends beyond the playing field, especially for boys and girls, who can see high-quality and professional sporting role models up close.
Parma, the Emilia-Romagna “capital” of tennis – The 2026 edition of the Parma Ladies Open presented by Iren will consolidate the city of Parma’s position in organizing international tournaments. “This is a truly valuable initiative for the Region,” explains Roberta Frisoni, Councilor for Tourism, Sport, and Commerce of the Emilia-Romagna Region. “The tournament has consolidated its place on the international calendar and is part of a series of events that are establishing Parma as a leader in the world of tennis. As a Region, we are very committed to celebrating the excellence of women’s sport.” Gilberto Fantini, president of the FITP Emilia-Romagna Committee, agrees: “TC Parma is a unique point of reference for the region, while the city of Parma remains the Emilia-Romagna tennis capital. We are delighted to once again host a flagship event for the women’s circuit in this city. Our goal is to engage more and more young people in tennis, a sport that allows for significant growth and always places education at its core.”
Iren Confirmed as Title Sponsor – “We are thrilled to confirm Iren’s support for the Parma Ladies Open, an event that represents not only sporting excellence but also an important opportunity for growth for the local community,” stated Giacomo Malmesi, Iren Board Member and President of Ireti. “Our participation as title sponsor reflects our desire to promote values we deeply believe in, such as sustainability, inclusion, and the development of new generations. This is also the direction taken by the ‘Iren Play the Future – Parma Ladies Open School Days’ project, an initiative for students that offers an immersive experience in the world of professional tennis and raises awareness of energy, the environment, and future opportunities related to sport. Involving young people means concretely investing in tomorrow, placing awareness and responsibility at the center. Through these activities, we want to help make the tournament increasingly sustainable and closer to the community, transforming sport into an educational tool of shared value.”
UniCredit Allianz Assicurazioni’s entry – “We chose to be the Main Partner of this tournament because we were immediately struck by what it represents: it is not only a high-level sporting event, but also an event capable of giving visibility, space, and value to women’s tennis, its athletes, and their journeys,” said Paolo Novati, General Manager of UniCredit Allianz Assicurazioni. “We believe in talent, but also in the importance of environments that allow talent to express itself, be nurtured, and supported over time. This is why our commitment stems from a conscious choice, consistent with the values that guide our business.”
Many Top 100 Players in Parma – The entry list for the 2026 edition of the Parma Ladies Open presented by Iren features twenty-one Top 100 players, five of whom are among the top fifty in the world rankings. Two Grand Slam singles champions will also be competing in Emilia-Romagna: American Sofia Kenin, winner of the 2020 Australian Open, and Czech Barbora Krejcikova, who won Roland Garros in 2021 and Wimbledon in 2024. Taylor Townsend, one of the best doubles players in recent years, a five-time Major finalist and the current number two in the doubles ranking, will also be a major attraction. Egyptian Mayar Sherif, one of the most successful players in the WTA 125 category, will return to Parma. The 30-year-old from Cairo, the defending champion, will be seeking her third title at the Emilian tournament, after also winning the WTA 250 title in 2022, in the final against then-Top 10 Maria Sakkari.
Tickets are now available on the official website – Tickets are now available on the official website, www.parmaladiesopen.com. For press accreditation requests, please send an email to credentials@meftennisevents.com.