Retirement, Federer & a double with Sinner: The big Seppi interview

The body forces the Kalterer to come to terms with saying goodbye to the tour. Now there is a decision to be made. In this interview, Seppi lets it slip in which direction things are going. We did this with him on a wonderful September afternoon at the facility in Altenburg, where Seppi grew up. Before eating at home with his parents Maria-Luise and Hugo, South Tyrol's tennis legend took a lot of time to chat.

Your career is slowly coming to an end, can you say that? Andreas Seppi: This year I didn't play much in total, 15 tournaments or so, 30 matches on the tour. There was little continuity, not even in training. I was able to play for two weeks, then I had to take a break again. You can no longer train properly as you would like because something comes up, physically I mean. You're never in rhythm. I was always used to playing 2 or 3 weeks in a row, but this year that was only possible at the beginning of the season. After that you slip down in the ranking and are only at number 4. Then it becomes difficult to even qualify for the ATP tournaments. Going back to the Challenger Tour to build up the ranking is very, very difficult, because playing 250 or 4 matches in a row is not easy.

What is the plan for the next few weeks?

I want to play in Sofia now, then definitely the ATP tournaments in Florence and Naples. Then I have to see where I stand.

How are they physically? It was okay until the grass season, when I was able to play for three weeks. I had qualified in s'Hertogenbosch, played 3 rounds at the Challenger and played 3 matches in the Wimbledon qualifiers. When I returned to clay, I played the match against Flavio Cobolli in Umag at the end of July. I noticed beforehand that the shoulder wasn't 3 percent okay. I took anti-inflammatories and it went away. But in this longer match I felt something in my shoulder in the last service game. I have done all the checks. It was bursitis, fluid in the shoulder. I haven't played for 100 weeks. If it hadn't been for the US Open, I would have taken a longer break. In New York I was able to play almost normally, but 3 matches in 3 days didn't help my shoulder get better. Even when I'm training, I'm not at 3 percent.

And the Challenger in Val Gardena at the end of October?

I lived there for 10 years and met my wife there. It's a tournament I've always enjoyed playing, even when I was top 30. I won twice in Ortisei. It's a tournament that I always enjoy taking part in. But it's still too early to say whether I'll play there or not, but it's in the tournament calendar. “When I’m at home, family comes first, then tennis.” Andreas Seppi The priorities in her life have changed. You are now a father of two and no longer a full-time professional.

When Liv was born in February 2020, everything changed a bit. Then Covid came. I was able to spend the first 5 months with the family, I really enjoyed it, there were no tournaments, I didn't practice much, I only played tennis once or twice a week at most. After that it was difficult to get back into the rhythm. In 2021 I saved myself and stayed in the top 100. That encouraged me to keep playing. With the second child (son Hugo was born in April) things are completely different. I play less and when I'm at home, family comes first, then tennis. This is of course reflected in the results. That is normal. I'm at an age where you also think about what comes next. The time has also come for Roger.

What do you think about Federer's resignation last week?

It wasn't a surprise. Since the outbreak of the corona pandemic he has played 5 tournaments. He actually stopped at the end of 2019. He also saw that it was no longer physically possible. Then it will be difficult to fight for titles.

Did you also say goodbye to him personally?

I posted a few photos with him on Instagram. It was an honor for all the players to play against him.

Is it a blessing or a curse to have played in the Big Three era of Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic?

Both. It was at a time when the three of them fought for the Grand Slam titles among themselves. It wasn't easy to play against them. But it is also something special. There were a few years when I played against one of the three in the second round. That was very nice, but also bitter. “Federer is tennis par excellence.” Andreas Seppi Who is the greatest for you personally?

This is Roger Federer. He is the one who inspired me the most. Unfortunately, two players have already overtaken him in terms of Grand Slam titles. But in terms of style, Federer is the ultimate tennis player. There is no one who plays as beautifully and easily as him. He was the most popular player to watch.

In your long career, the victory against Roger Federer in Melbourne in 2015 also stands out?

Sure, beating him at a Grand Slam is something I never expected. To just say I'm going to go on the field and today I'm going to win is a stretch. Landing a victory like that was incredible for me, certainly the best achievement. I can still talk about it with my children, even if they will never see him play live.

And the worst defeat?

The match right after Federer's victory. I had match point in the Melbourne round of 2 and lost to Nick Kyrgios to get to the quarter-finals. That hurt, even though I played incredibly well. I was leading 0-4 and had match point in the XNUMXth set.

Do you have any regrets or would you do anything differently looking back?

I certainly gave it the best I could give. There were a few little things I might have done differently, but with the experience I have now, it's easy to say. When I think back, I'm more than happy with how everything turned out. It was my dream to become a professional tennis player. I achieved that and I never expected to play for so long.

What are you most proud of, the 67 Grand Slam tournaments, the 810 weeks in the top 100, the over 400 ATP tournaments?

Certainly because I was there for so long and played at a certain level. With the exception of a few weeks, I was always in the top 100. I would certainly have had the chance to win one or two more tournaments or achieve better results. But being there for 18 years is what I'm most proud of.

Have you thought about what you will do after your career or, to put it another way, have you had almost 12 million in prize money?

Unfortunately, I live in Italy, where the tax rate is not exactly low. That's why you can ask what the state did with it (laughs). There are also expenses, including for the trainer. 12 million would be a luxury, but I can't complain. Once I decide to stop playing tennis, something will happen. I leave all options open to myself. What comes, comes.

They have had a home in Colorado for 5 years. Will the USA now be the center of her life?

The plan is to stay over there after our career and maybe send the children to kindergarten or school in Boulder, but we also want to spend time here in South Tyrol again, because family and friends are here, and we are here grew up. Let's see what happens after your career.

Their coach Massimo Sartori said they would be the perfect addition to Jannik Sinner's team.

Jannik is an incredible player. It would be great to work with him, but we have 2 children, maybe there will be more children, then it will be a lot for the family. But dedicating a few weeks to tennis would be great. Coaching a player like Jannik would be great.

You are one of the current Sinner coach’s best friends. Is Simone Vagnozzi the right coach?

Simone is incredibly knowledgeable about tennis in terms of play and tactics. Under his leadership, Jannik has certainly improved many things. You can see that it varies more than before. He plays more serve and volley, comes to the net, makes stop balls. I also often talk to Simone or his advisor Alex Vittur. Darren Cahill has also been there since the grass season and can give Sinner other information. If he had won the match against Carlos Alcaraz, he would have won the US Open.

Did you see the Sinner – Alcaraz game in New York?

I watched the match from the end of the 2nd to the beginning of the 3rd and the entire 5th set. It was certainly a bitter defeat for him, as it was for me against Kyrgios in Melbourne. Jannik realized that there was a chance to win a Grand Slam tournament. In terms of level, he and Alcaraz are the two players who have one more gear than everyone else.

How many Grand Slam tournaments will Sinner win?

It's hard to say, but he will win major tournaments because he plays tennis at a very high level, the rhythm is incredible. And he's only 21. Give him another 2 or 3 years. But you never know who will come next. Now Alcaraz is number 1, and he's only 19. Nobody would have expected that. The two will be at the forefront in the next few years, without a doubt.

There hasn't been a double Seppi/Sinner on the tour yet... Maybe it will work in Florence or Naples.

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Retirement, Federer & a double with Sinner: The big Seppi interview

It's completely normal to think about quitting as a tennis professional when you're almost 39 years old. Even for Andreas Seppi, a professional for two decades, retirement becomes an issue at this age.

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