Part 2: Will South Tyrol get the next Karin Knapp?

Im ersten Teil In our series you have already been able to find out everything about South Tyrol's men on the tour and about the path to becoming a tennis professional. Now let's turn our attention to the women.

The way to the top The South Tyrolean women's tennis world has a big figurehead: Like Andreas Seppi, Karin Knapp has been playing in the highest professional tennis league for years - for women, the WTA tour of the approximately top 150 elite. As with men, the ITF tour is also the women's entry into the professional class - but it's a long way to get to the top of the world.

Unlike the men's, the women's lowest professional league has a considerable range from $15.000 tournaments up to $100.000 - and the level therefore increases significantly from the lowest to the highest tournament on the ITF tour. From 125.000 tournaments you play in the highest professional league, the WTA Tour.

Until 2017 there were still 10.000 tournaments on the ITF tour - these have been abolished since the beginning of the new year. At the ITF tournaments, points are awarded for the WTA world rankings, which include the world's approximately 1.300 best players for women. This is intended to make it easier for young players in particular to jump into the next higher tournament series on the WTA tour. Participation in a tournament of a certain price category (or its qualification) is generally made possible by the corresponding ranking of the players. As the prize money increases (the sum of the prize money is always divided among all players), the playing strength of the athletes and the awarding of world ranking points in a tournament increase. Each tennis player retains the points they have captured for exactly one year before they are taken out of the WTA (or ATP) computer again and it is time to conquer points again in order to stay in the world rankings.

After Karin Knapp, a number of local newcomers are currently on the international professional tour, some of whom have already gained points for the world rankings in their young careers.

These South Tyroleans are currently in action on the women's ITF tour Verena Hofer (Singles WTA 888, doubles WTA 960) : The 19-year-old from Val Gardena has been on the ITF tour since 2012. Her highest placement was number 722 in the world in singles and number 834 in doubles in 2015. So far, Hofer has reached the semifinals of a 10.000 tournament twice in singles competition and won two tournament victories in the same tournament class in doubles.

Verena Melissa (WTA 1124) : The 19-year-old from Kaltern ended 2016 with her best placement (WTA 985) - she currently has to take a break due to injury. So far, Meliss has been able to advance to the quarter-finals of a 10.000 once and in doubles she has reached the final twice in this tournament class - her best placement was number 760 in the doubles world rankings.

Jasmin Ladurner (WTA doubles: 1283) : The 26-year-old from Meran has been taking part in ITF tournaments since 2008 - her best ranking in singles was 951st place in 2016 and 778th place in doubles in 2015. Due to an injury break, she lost her world ranking points in singles last year and was able to get them not yet recovered. That's why she currently no longer appears in the WTA singles rankings.

Jeannine Hopfgartner : The 19-year-old from Brixen is currently without a world ranking point. She played five first-round matches in the main draw of a 10.000, two of them by winning qualifying. She didn't make it to the second round of a tournament yet.

Silvia Saccani : The Gaiserin, who turns 18 in April, was able to qualify for the main draw of a 10.000 tournament twice and then finished the tournament in the first round each time.

Magdalena Santer : The Lanan woman (17 years old) was able to qualify once for the main draw in a 10.000. She also finished the tournament in the first round. Sophie Walzl : The Merano native, who will turn 18 in May, has taken part in four ITF tournaments in the last two years. She has not yet been able to qualify for the main draw.

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Part 2: Will South Tyrol get the next Karin Knapp?

How do women's tennis players get to the top of the world? And which young South Tyrolean players are currently competing on the professional tour? SportNews provides the answers.

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