Andreas Seppi, last match in Ortisei

Andreas Seppi’s farewell

Andreas Seppi’s career is now truly over.

On Tuesday on the Ortisei center court he played his last match, losing in the first round of the Sparkasse Challenger Val Gardena Südtirol after a two-hour battle against Yannick Hanfmann. 5:7, 6:3, 6:4 was the final score in favor of the German, who will take on Borna Gojo on Wednesday for a place in the quarters.

Large crowds turned out to see the South Tyrolean’s last match at his home tournament. More than 500 people, including Arno Kompatscher, president of the Province of Bolzano, family, and friends from Kaltern. All witnessed an exciting match.

“Definitely, these were great years. Never did I think I could play at this level until I was 38 years old. An important chapter of my life closes, but an even better one with my family begins,” Seppi said with a few tears in his eyes before thanking his parents, his wife Michela and his longtime coach Massimo Sartori. With a big party in his honor, the Ortisei tournament will say goodbye to Seppi on Friday evening at 8:30 p.m.