First round match takes place on Tuesday, 25 October
Great news for tennis fans in South Tyrol: Andreas Seppi will end his successful career at the end of the month at his home tournament in Val Gardena. The Sparkasse Challenger Val Gardena Südtirol will be his last tournament as a professional. "Today Andreas has confirmed his participation in our tournament", tournament director Ambros Hofer is happy to announce.
The Challenger in Ortisei will take place this year in the week from 24 to 30 October and has prize money of 45,730 euros. The men's tournament in Val Gardena is in its 13th edition this autumn. Seppi is the only one to have won twice in Ortisei, taking the tournament title in 2013 and 2014, as well as reaching the final in 2012 and the quarter-finals in 2017. His overall record at the home tournament is impressive with 16 wins and 2 losses. Hofer: "I am convinced that Seppi can still win matches at Challenger level. In any case, we are overjoyed that Andreas has decided to end his career at the most important tournament in South Tyrol." OC head Ellis Kasslatter has a similar view: "It is an honour for us that Andreas is ending his career in front of his home fans in Val Gardena/Gröden. We have always hoped that, even though we are aware that Seppi has played on many bigger stages in his long career." The organisers have also already set Seppi's first appearance at his last tournament. Seppi will play his first round match on Tuesday, 25 October in the 2nd match after 5pm (i.e. around 7pm) in the Runggaditsch tennis hall.
The 38-year-old professional from Kaltern had announced his retirement at the end of the season this week. Seppi is currently ranked 257 in the world. He was among the world's top players for many years and achieved his best ranking in January 2013 with rank 18.
