ATP Challenger Val Gardena presented

Stephan Konder from the main sponsor Sparkasse, the Vice President of the Italian Tennis Association FIT, Roland Sandrin and the President of the South Tyrolean Tennis State Committee, Richard Weißensteiner also took part in the press conference. For the second time since 2017, the men's ATP Challenger tournament, worth 64.000 euros, will be held in the second week of October this year, and it will be taking place for the ninth time overall. From 1999 to 2009, Val Gardena had previously hosted eleven ITF tournaments for women. There were prominent winners, such as a later Grand Slam tournament winner (Flavia Pennetta in 2002, she ended her career in 2015 after winning the US Open), a later world number 1, such as Caroline Wozniacki (2007) and also a former one Number 1 in the junior world rankings (Michaella Krajicek 2005). The only player with two tournament wins is Mara Santangelo from Fiemme Valley, who triumphed in 2003 and 2008.

Andreas Seppi not there this year For men, local hero Andreas Seppi is the only player to have won the tournament in Val Gardena twice (2014, 2015). The Kalterer native has a record of 16 wins and only 2 defeats in four participations in Ortisei. Last year, Seppi unexpectedly had to give up in the quarterfinals against Matteo Donati after two tiebreaks. However, the Kalterer will not be at the home tournament this year because he is currently playing in Asia.

Five players from the top 100 and two former winners at the start Bringing the tournament forward had already paid off for the organizers last year. While four top 2017 players registered in 100, this year there are even five professionals from the top 100 in the world rankings. Curiously, like last year, number 1 on the entry list is the Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert, number 68 in the world. Defending champion Lorenzo Sonego made it into the top 100 (90th place) after his tournament victory at the Challenger in Genoa at the beginning of September and wants to be the second player after Seppi to defend his title in Val Gardena. 80 world ranking points and 9200 euros for the winner There are plenty of candidates for the winner's check of 9200 euros. The winner also gets 80 world ranking points. Five Challenger tournaments are played in Val Gardena week, but no other tournament can boast so many players from the top hundred in the world rankings. Wild card in the main field for Jannik Sinner Because Andreas Seppi preferred to play the Asian tour this year in order to get the necessary points to end the year in the top 40, the Kalterer native will not be there in Val Gardena. However, South Tyrol does not have to do without a local player in the main draw. “We decided to award the wild card in the main draw to Jannik Sinner. He is the greatest talent in South Tyrol,” says tournament director Ambros Hofer. Dates for the semi-finals and finals have been set The tournament in Ortisei begins with qualification on October 6th and 7th (draw on Friday, October 5th at 21 p.m.). 32 players fight for four places in the main draw over three days. The first games in the main draw will be played on Monday, October 8th. The semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, October 13th and the final will take place on Sunday, October 14th.

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ATP Challenger Val Gardena presented

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