BERGAMO, February 22, 2017

Local favourite and tournament’s top seed Andreas Seppi lost his opening match at the €64,000 Internazionali di Tennis Trofeo Faip-Perel in Bergamo against German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 4-6, 2-6.

The World No. 72 entered the ATP Challenger event with a wild card but had to accept his first ever defeat at the PalaNorda, although everything was prepared for an Italian party on Tuesday evening.

The 2008 and 2011 champion celebrated his birthday and with about 1,500 spectators stands were packed, but Hanfmann was in total control of the encounter. The 25-year-old from Karlsruhe sent down six aces, winning 82 per cent of his first service points. He saved the only break point he faced, converting three of his own to seal victory in just under one hour of play.

“Not the best way to celebrate my birthday,” told Seppi, who turned 33 under the eyes of his coach Massimo Santori and his parents, who rarely follow his matches on the tour.

Hanfmann will next take on fellow countryman Daniel Brands.

With Nils Langer, another German player advanced to the second round. The 27-year-old lucky loser upset fourth seed Luca Vanni from Italy, winning 7-5, 6-4, 6-3. Langer withstood 12 aces and broke serve four times to prevail in two hours and seven minutes. Next up for Langer will be Italian wild card Matteo Berrettini.

Tuesday Singles Results

Egor Gerasimov (BLR) def. Matthias Bachinger (GER) 6-4 7-6(5)

Quentin Halys (FRA) def. Zdenek Kolar (CZE) 7-6(2) 6-0

Matteo Berrettini (ITA) def. Laslo Djere (SRB) 7-6(5) 7-5

Alessandro Bega (ITA) def. Stefano Napolitano (ITA) 6-4 6-1

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) def. Aleksandr Nedovyesov (KAZ) 6-4 7-6(7)

Remi Boutillier (FRA) def. Andrea Arnaboldi (ITA) 7-6(0) 6-1

Ilya Ivashka (BLE) def. Yannik Reuter (BEL) 6-3 6-1

Yannick Hanfmann (GER) def. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-4 6-2

Nils Langer (GER) def. Luca Vanni (ITA) 7-5 4-6 6-4