Andreas Seppi also chose where to say enough

Seppi chose Ortisei for farewell.

Great news for tennis fans in South Tyrol and beyond: Andreas Seppi will end his wonderful career at his home tournament at the end of the month. The Sparkasse Challenger Val Gardena Südtirol will be his last tournament as a professional. “Andreas has confirmed to me his presence at our tournament,” comments overjoyed Ambros Hofer, the director of the kermesse

The Ortisei challenger will be held this year from October 24 to 30 and will feature a prize pool of 45,730 euros. The men’s tournament is now in its 13th edition, and Seppi is the only one to have won it twice in 2013 and 2014. In addition, he reached the final in 2012 and the quarters in 2017. In total at the home tournament he has a record of 16 wins and two losses. Hofer: “I am convinced that Andreas at the challenger level is still capable of having his say. We are delighted that he has decided to end his competitive career at the most important tournament in South Tyrol.” Of the same opinion Ellis Kasslatter, president of the organizing committee: “We are really proud that Andreas has chosen our tournament and will finish his career in front of his fans. We always hoped so knowing, however, that Seppi has played on other stages in his long career.”

The organizers have already scheduled Seppi’s first-round match at his last tournament: he will make his debut on Tuesday, Oct. 25, in the second match from 5 p.m. around 7 p.m. The 38-year-old from Kaltern earlier in the week had announced his retirement at the end of the season. Seppi currently occupies the number 257 position in the world ranking, after having been at the top for so many years: the 18th place reached at the end of January 2013 was his best ranking.