Andreas Seppi: “Now I’m looking forward to my new life”

Andreas Seppi will be 39 years old next February. This will be the first birthday in two decades that the Kalterer is no longer a tennis professional. Like the father of two opposite SportNews confirmed, he will quit after this season. This marks the end of one of the greatest sports careers in South Tyrol.

Seppi has been a professional for 20 years. During this time he was a model of consistency, a role model when it came to hard work. The Kalterer native was the first South Tyrolean ever to break into the top 20 of the world rankings, and in 2013 he even became number 18 on the planet - a position he held for a total of seven weeks. A memorable career But Seppi's numerous sporting achievements will also be remembered. For example, his tournament victories in Eastbourne (2011, grass), Belgrade (2012, clay) and Moscow (2012, hard court). Or his triumph over Roger Federer at the Australian Open in 2015, which electrified the whole of South Tyrol. But one thing above all will not be forgotten: Seppi competed in the world's Grand Slam tournaments 66 times in a row. This is an incredible series, only surpassed by Feliciano Lopez (79) and Fernando Verdasco (67).

Andreas Seppi as a proud family man.

In the past few months, the Überetscher has had to repeatedly struggle with physical problems. In addition to his constant suffering with his hip, his shoulder has recently been playing tricks on him, which is why the end of his career has been in the air for a long time. The Kalterer would like to end his career on the tennis court. And so he will smash his last balls over the net as a professional either at the ATP tournament in Naples next week or at the Challenger tournament in Val Gardena at the end of October. 3 questions for Andreas Seppi What prompted you to resign?

“I just realized that I can no longer play three or four games in a row. Recently I've repeatedly had minor physical problems that have bothered me, such as the shoulder injury. When I qualified for the US Open, I realized that that was it.”

“It will be a phase of my life in which I can spend a lot of time with my family.” Andreas Seppi What are your final days as a professional like?

“I'm still trying to keep myself fit so I can be ready for my last tournament. I would like to play at the ATP tournament in Naples and have asked for a wildcard there. I was active in the ATP circuit for years and it would be nice to stop there. But maybe the Challenger tournament in Val Gardena will be my last appearance.”

What will await you in the future?

“I’m looking forward to my new life. It will be a phase of my life in which I can spend a lot of time with my family. After my last tournament we will fly to Colorado where we have a house. We want to raise the children there. I don't know what will happen next for me yet. There are several options, the next few weeks and months will show where we are headed.”

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Andreas Seppi: “Now I’m looking forward to my new life”

Now the moment has come: After 20 years on the big tennis stage, Andreas Seppi has announced his retirement. He provides the answers to the most burning questions in our interview.

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