ORTISEI, October 10, 2017

Andreas Seppi opened his home campaign on Tuesday with a first round win at the €64,000 ATP Challenger Val Gardena held at the Tennis Club in Ortisei. The local hero from Bolzano defeated Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-2, 6-2.

Seppi sent down eight aces, saved both break points he faced, capitalizing on four of his own to seal victory in only 46 minutes. The third seed will next play fellow Italian Salvatore Caruso, who beat Pedro Martínez Portero from Spain 6-3, 7-6.

Seventh seed Oscar Otte set a second round clash with Spanish #NextGenATP player Bernabé Zapata Miralles. Otte fought past Federico Gaio of Italy 6-4, 4-6, 7-6. The 24-year-old German fired 10 aces, winning 78 per cent of his first service points to prevail after one hour and 54 minutes.

Zapata Miralles only needed 52 minutes to cruise past French veteran Stephane Robert. The 20-year-old from Valencia saved the only break point he faced, converting four of his own.

The top seed of the tournament, Marius Copil, arrived in Ortisei on Tuesday afternoon but was forced to withdraw from his first round match against local favourite Sebastian Prader on Wednesday due to a shoulder injury. The World No. 77 from Romania will be replaced by Andrea Arnaboldi of Italy.