Andreas Seppi is the big star of the ATP Challenger in Val Gardena

“Our starting field is really impressive. We are looking forward to an interesting week with a lot of top tennis,” said tournament director Wolfgang Wanker today at the presentation of the event in Ortisei. “It was the right decision to host the tournament in the same week as in 2011. This was the only way we had a chance of Seppi playing in Val Gardena and accepting a wild card,” says Wanker. In the last two years, the Kalterer native had given preference to the ATP Masters tournament in Paris-Bercy, which was held at the same time. In 2012, only the ATP World Championship with the eight best players in the world will take place in London in the same week at the highest level. “Our biggest competition is the Challenger in Bratislava.”

Andreas Seppi is the driving force “Andreas Seppi is of course the big attraction in Val Gardena. “He’s the best thing that could have happened to our tournament,” says the tournament director happily. The 28-year-old from Kalter is currently number 22 in the world rankings, better placed than ever in his career and the undisputed number one in Italy. His arrival will be followed with great interest and will attract many South Tyrolean fans to Val Gardena. After all, Seppi has had the best year of his career, which he would like to end with a “home win”. 90 world ranking points and 9200 euros in prize money await the winner. Seppi won the ATP tournaments in Belgrade this year on clay (against Benoit Paire) and only on Sunday on the hard court indoors in Moscow (after a furious comeback against Thomaz Bellucci). In Eastbourne on grass (against Andy Roddick) and in Metz indoors (against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga) he only lost in the final. His appearance at Roland Garros, where he had to admit defeat to world number one Novak Djokovic after five sets in the round of XNUMX, and his advance to the quarter-finals at the Masters tournament in Rome are also unforgettable. After victories over John Isner and Stanislas Wawrinka, he was at the end of his strength in the quarterfinals against Roger Federer.

Strong competition for the South Tyrolean But the competition is fierce. In passing, Seppi won't be able to win at home either. “We have the two finalists from 93 in the field with defending champion Rajeev Ram from the USA (ATP 2011) and Jan Hernych,” says Wanker. Philipp Petzschner, who was number one last year (he lost to Hernych in an exciting match in three sets in the semi-finals), is also coming back to South Tyrol. Petzschner is ranked 94th in the ATP computer. He won the doubles title with Jürgen Melzer at Wimbledon in 2010 and at the US Open in 2011 and is one of the favorites this year too. “The players who played well last year are coming back. Also proof that they felt comfortable with us.”

“Five players from Germany in the main draw is very good,” says Wanker. Benjamin Becker comes to Val Gardena as number 80 in the world rankings; he was already number 2007 in the world in 38. Dominik Meffert, Dustin Brown (won the doubles title in St. Ulrich last year) and the strong server Daniel Brands, who almost defeated Juan Martin Del Potro in Vienna last week, are also coming back.

Second wild card for Simone Bolelli “Overall, the level is even better than last year. The top eight on the entry list are among the top 116 in the world,” says the OC boss happily. And Wanker hasn't given up hope that one or two big names will join them. Like Simone Bolelli's. The Italian Davis Cup player asked for a wild card and of course got it. “Bolelli was in the semi-finals here in 2010, he is currently number 82 in the world rankings and is therefore the fifth top 100 player to play at our tournament,” says Wanker happily.

Barbian Patrick Prader, who works as a tennis instructor in Val Gardena, also receives a Wlid Card for the main field. Farrukh Dustow also applied for a wild card. The Uzbek, who lived and trained in South Tyrol for many years and feels very comfortable on the fast Bross Slide surface, could still slide straight into the main field if there is one or two cancellations. The organizers want to take their time until the end with the remaining three wild cards for the main field.

Qualification: Wild cards for Holzer, Vittur, Berger and Prinoth Four players made it into the main draw in the qualification on November 3rd and 4th (Saturday/Sunday). As always, the organizers will give preference to the South Tyrolean players for the wild cards for qualification. Local hero Patric Prinoth and ex-professional Thomas Holzer from Kaltern received the first two wild cards. Another two go to Simon Berger from St. Lorenzen and Alex Vittur.

New surface only in 2013 Actually, the most important tennis tournament in South Tyrol should have been held on a new surface this year. “But this year the game will still be played on the Bross Slide carpet. But for next year I can promise that we will have a new hall floor,” says Wanker.

Finals on Sunday, November 11th from 11 a.m The tournament begins on Saturday, November 3rd with qualifying. The two finals in singles and doubles are scheduled for Sunday, November 11th from 11 a.m. The semi-finals on Saturday, November 10th start at 12 p.m. This year, for the first time in Val Gardena, entry is required. The qualifying games are freely accessible, the day ticket from Monday to Thursday costs 5 euros, from Friday to Sunday 10 euros.

The tournament live on the internet Like last year, tennis fans from all over the world have the opportunity to follow every rally of the tournament live on the Internet. On the official website of the tournament www.atpvalgardena.it and of course also under www.atptourworld.com A livescore is set up. Val Gardena also offers a live stream of the two courses. The traditional Sparkasse Kids Day will also be back: On Monday, November 5th, young players will have the chance to hit balls with the professionals.

The main field of the ATP Challenger in Ortisei: 1. Benjamin Becker (GER) 80 ATP 2. Philipp Petzschner (GER) 93 3. Rajeev Ram (USA) 94 4. Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) 109 5. Daniel Brands (GER) 111 6. Malek Jaziri (DO) 112 7. Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 113 8. Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) 116 9. Josselin Ouanna (FRA) 122 10. Karol Beck (SVK) 128 11. Dustin Brown (GER) 139 12. Matto Viola (ITA) 143 13. Jimmy Wang (TPE) 146 14. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 155 15. Jan Hernych (CZE) 169 16. Jan Mertl (CZE) 181 17. Ivo Minar (CZE) 192 18. Dominik Moffert (GER) 193 19. Rik De Voest (RSA) 195 20. Erik Chvojka (CAN) 214 21. Oleksandr Nedovyesov (UKR) 215 22. Albano Olivetti (FRA) 220

Wild card main draw: Andreas Seppi (ITA) 22 ATP Simone Bolelli (ITA) 82 Patrick Prader(ITA)

Wild card qualification: Thomas Holzl Alex Vittur Simon Berger Patrick Prinoth

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Andreas Seppi is the big star of the ATP Challenger in Val Gardena

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