Ricardas Berankis wants to defend title in Ortisei - VIDEO

All four semi-finalists from 2015 are returning The four semi-finalists from last year have again announced for the tournament in Ortisei this year. Last year's winner Ricardas Berankis comes from Lithuania and wants to defend the 90 world ranking points he conquered twelve months ago and the title. Berankis was ranked No. 84 in the world upon registration last week and is currently in great form. On Tuesday he defeated Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic from Canada in Basel. The Lithuanian won the final against Rajeev Ram from the USA in 2015. Ram (number 113 in the world) has also already won the tournament in Val Gardena in 2011. The semi-finalists Evgeny Donskoy from Russia (102) and Laslo Djere from Serbia are also in the main draw. Just like the German Benjamin Becker, the Val Gardena winner in 2012. Becker achieved the feat of inflicting Andreas Seppi's only defeat at his home tournament in the final four years ago. In 2013 and 2014 Seppi won the tournament in Val Gardena.

Audience favorite Seppi on her honeymoon “Of course I'm sorry that I won't be at the Challenger tournament in Ortisei this year either. I always have very good memories of the tournament and this year it would definitely be good for me to play there to try to improve my ranking a bit. Unfortunately, with the problem in my hip, I have to do an infiltration every six months and then take a break for twenty days,” says Seppi. “In order to prepare myself as well as possible for the coming season, which as always begins in January in Australia, I have decided with a heavy heart to end the season after the tournament in Paris Bercy, like last year. “But there is also another very good reason why I can’t compete in Ortisei this year: the honeymoon with my wife Michela,” Seppi adds.

Without the crowd favorite Seppi, there are many favorites for the winner's check of 9200 euros. In addition to the semi-finalists from 2015 and the former winner Becker, five “Azzurri” are also hoping for a good result in South Tyrol. Alessandro Giannessi (138 in the world rankings), Luca Vanni (171), Federico Gaio (181), the young Stefano Napolitano (221) and Andrea Arnaboldi (250) are right in the main field. “With the exception of young man Napolitano, everyone has already played here in Val Gardena,” says club president Patrizia Mairhofer.

New tournament director – new logo After 17 years at the helm of the tournament, Wolfgang Wanker has decided to step down from his roles as tournament director and in the OC. His successor as tournament director is Ambros Hofer, while Ellis Kasslatter remains head of the organizing committee. In addition to a new tournament director, South Tyrol's most important tennis event also has a new logo. 80 suggestions were received from all over Italy last year. “We wanted to modernize the logo, and we succeeded,” says Ellis Kasslatter. “Of course we are missing Wolfgang, but we have a well-rehearsed team that works and the fact that all four semi-finalists are back shows that the players feel comfortable in Val Gardena.”

Qualifying wild cards go to local players “Overall, we are already satisfied with the entry list. We can definitely look forward to an exciting and balanced tournament,” says Ambros Hofer. “All four semi-finalists from last year are here. We tried to bring a really big name to South Tyrol.” Former top ten player Tommy Robredo had been under discussion for a long time. “The contacts with Robredo were very intensive, but he has now decided to play the higher-value tournament in Bratislava in the same week. Just like the former top ten player Jürgen Melzer.” The organizers also had contact with Italy's current number one Paolo Lorenzi. “We only have one wild card available. We will try to give it either to a player with a well-known name or to Patrick Prader from Barbia, who works for us as a tennis teacher,” says Hofer. The three other wild cards for the main draw are awarded by the Italian Tennis Association FIT. The four wild cards for qualification, however, go to the local players Patric Prinoth, Michael Kerschbaumer, Jonas Ciechi and Erwin Tröbinger. The Italian Tennis Federation awards the remaining two wild cards for qualification.

Prices and tickets Tickets for the tournament can now be purchased on the organizers' homepage (www.atpvalgardena.it). “As in recent years, we will only charge entry for the games in the main draw. The prices have remained the same compared to last year. From Tuesday to Thursday - including the round of 6 - a day ticket costs 10 euros, on Friday and Saturday (quarter and semi-finals 15 euros) and for the final 40 euros. A weekly ticket costs XNUMX euros,” says OC boss Kasslatter. One euro per ticket sold is donated to the South Tyrolean Sports Aid.

Finals on Sunday, November 13th from 11 a.m Almost nothing changes in the program for the tournament week. The qualification, which will take place over two or three days, will be drawn on Friday, November 4th at 21 p.m. The main draw will be drawn on Saturday, November 5th and begins on Monday, November 7th. The tournament will end on Sunday, November 13th with the two finals starting at 11 a.m. (first doubles, then singles). “As in recent years, from the round of 10 on Thursday, November XNUMXth, we would like to only play on one pitch in order to be able to set up additional stands and have as many spectators as possible in the hall,” says Hofer.

Live broadcast from the tournament Like last year, tennis fans from all over the world have the opportunity to follow every rally of the tournament live on the Internet. A live score is set up on the tournament homepage. Val Gardena also offers a live stream of the two courses. There are also current reports about and about the tournament on Facebook (ATP Val Gardena) and Twitter (@atpvalgardena). The traditional Sparkasse Kids Day will also take place again: on Monday, November 7th, local young players will have the unique chance to hit balls with the professionals.

ITF tournament for women from December 4th to 11th After the 7th ATP Challenger in the second week of November, an ITF tournament for women worth $10.000 will take place for the second time this year. Date for the 2nd edition: Sunday, December 4th to Sunday, December 11th. “Eleven women’s ITF tournaments from 1999 to 2009, seven Challengers and now two women’s ITF tournaments. This brings us to 20 international tournaments in Val Gardena in 17 years. Not a bad number,” says Hofer.

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Ricardas Berankis wants to defend title in Ortisei - VIDEO

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