Interview | This is what Seppi says about Sinner and his future

Even at the age of 37, tennis professional Andreas Seppi doesn't say the word retirement. “I want to play as long as I can,” says the Kalterer, who is making his comeback on the ATP tour at the tournament in Parma from Sunday. But of course, at his age, he has to deal with the fact that his career will no longer last forever.

“Andreas just loves playing tennis too much to just stop. You can see that when he’s on the pitch,” says Massimo Sartori (54), who has been his coach for 26 years and who – unique on the tour – has accompanied him throughout his entire career.

Andreas Seppi is often not at home in Kaltern. Already this week. On the courts in Altenburg where he grew up, he prepared for the two clay court tournaments in Parma from Sunday and the French Open in Paris from May 30th. They will be the 64th Grand Slam tournament for Seppi, the 63rd he plays in a row.

What has Andreas Seppi done since losing in the quarterfinals against Matthias Bachinger at the Challenger in Biella on March 18th?

Andreas Seppi: “Before I flew to America for 4 weeks, I had the injection done in my hip. It was different than usual because my problem now no longer affects the cartilage, but the bone. The bone has deformed a bit. As usual, I took a break for three weeks and started playing on clay again in the last two weeks in Colorado. A week ago we returned to South Tyrol.”

How are you physically?

“The injection didn’t really help. As long as I don't serve it's okay, but as soon as I start playing for points it starts to hurt again. It's a bit uncomfortable, especially during training. Because even in training you have to and want to give 100 percent. You don't want to play with pain. In the match the adrenaline is there, you somehow push through it or don't think about it too much. But if you don't train properly, you won't be able to give 100 percent in the match. I’m not 25 anymore, I’m 37. If you can’t train fully, it’s even harder.”

What are your plans for the next few weeks and months?

“Next week at the ATP 250 tournament in Parma I should get a wild card for the main draw, then we go to Paris. I would also like to play the grass tournaments. As long as the ranking is okay, you can hold on. But when I have to start playing the qualifiers or Challenger tournaments and then with pain. That doesn't work. After Wimbledon I will make a decision. You also have to see how I play in the next tournaments and where I am in the world rankings.” Andreas Seppi is training for his comeback. © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Steven Ryan

So after Wimbledon the decision will be made as to what happens next?

“More or less yes. My planning goes up to the US Open at the end of August. The major tournaments still excite me. Not just because I think about the series. If I manage to finish the year, then that's what I want to do. This may improve over time with the injection. But it can also get worse. The doctor told me I'm 37. 'If I could give you one piece of advice, I wouldn't play again'. It's a decision I have to make myself. My plan is to at least play until the US Open. If I'm ranked 150th and I'm in pain, it's no longer of much use. But if there is an improvement with the hip and the doctor says I can continue playing for another year or two, then that's something different. The desire for tennis is there. I notice on the pitch that I’m still playing well, but the question is how fit am I.”

And what happens next after Parma and Paris?

“The plan is to play the two Challenger 125s in Nottingham from June 13th and qualify at the ATP tournament in Eastbourne before Wimbledon. And after that I want to play the grass tournament in Newport for the first time, which is only an hour away from Boulder. And if I'm ranked 100th, there are enough hard court tournaments in the USA where I can be in the main draw. The planning runs until the US Open at the end of August.”

What expectations do you have now when you start on sand?

“I will continue training in Parma and Paris to get in shape for the grass season. I don’t expect much on clay because I’ve only had two and a half weeks of training behind me.”

“I don’t think that was his goal.” Andreas Seppi about Jannik Sinner's new South Tyrol record

What do you say about the world rankings being frozen?

“It was right to postpone the points from March 2020 to December 2020. That was extended by a year because they didn't play much. But it is not correct that only 50 percent of the points will be lost until Wimbledon. Nothing changed for me because I didn't score any points on clay. A few players in front of me would have lost more points.”

Jannik Sinner became number 17 in the world on Monday and broke her South Tyrol record (18th place)?

“I don’t think that was his goal. He is a player who can be in the top ten for years, without a doubt. It was only a matter of time before he did it.”

Are you in contact with Jannik regularly or at all?

“We spoke on the phone a few times in Australia. Not anymore in the month I was in the USA. I sometimes talk to my buddy Alex (Sinner manager Vittur). He keeps me informed.”

Is there still a chance of a South Tyrolean doubles on the ATP tour?

"This will not be easy. Jannik certainly doesn't want to play doubles at a Grand Slam. He's playing to be top ten. I think it's better for him to concentrate on singles. Maybe one day we can do a double on grass together.”

“At the Grand Slams you have to give Jannik another year or two.” Andreas Seppi on Jannik Sinner's chances of a Grand Slam title

What do you say about Italian tennis? There are more Azzurri in the top 100 than ever before.

“The boom has become apparent. And the results this year were also impressive. Jannik played the final in Miami, Matteo Berrettini was in the final in Madrid, Lorenzo Sonego in the semi-final in Rome. Jannik won a tournament. Every week someone plays really well.”

So can Italy also win the Davis Cup?

"The chances are good. There are other teams like Russia, but in the next few years it is almost impossible for Italy not to win even once. At my best, Fabio Fognini was in 20th place, I was in 30th place. Jannik is almost in the top ten, Berrettini is already. Sonego is now top 30 and then we also have to see how Lorenzo Musetti develops. Even Italy’s second team would be good.”

And who will be the first Grand Slam tournament winner not named Nadal or Djokovic?

“Dominic Thiem is someone who will be very dangerous in Paris, he was already in the final there. Any of the boys can beat anyone. No matter whether Stefanos Tsitsipas or Andrej Rublew or Alexander Zverev. It depends on your form on the day. Tstitsipas is becoming more and more consistent. At the Grand Slams, you have to give Jannik another year or two to get through it physically. But he can win every 1000 if he plays well.”

Questions: Stefan Peer

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Interview | This is what Seppi says about Sinner and his future

At the ATP tournament starting Sunday in Parma, Andreas Seppi is making his comeback after a two-month break. The man from Kalteren had to give his injured hip a break. You can read how long he wants to play and how he sees his future on the tour in the interview with s+.

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