ORTISEI, November 4, 2015

Sad news for the € 64,000 Sparkassen ATP Challenger in Val Gardena, as local hero and defending champion Andreas Seppi was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to another hip injury. After the world number 28 had lost in the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris-Bercy to Roger Federer, Seppi announced to end his season.

“Unfortunately, I do not feel physically well. I still have problems with my right foot and also got some pain in the hip again,” told Seppi. “I haven’t been able to practice probably in the last couple of weeks and actually only played the matches. I have to undergo an infiltration at the hip and have to take a rest for some weeks. Consequently, I decided to end the season with a heavy heart. I am really sorry for the fans that I am not able to play my home tournament but I want to be fit for the Australian Open next year.”

“Of course that is bad news for our tournament but also for Andreas,” Ellis Kasslatter, head of the organizing committee stated. “Andreas was the main attraction in the last three years. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to an interesting tournament. Two top 100 players will come to Ortisei and Dustin Brown will be the public’s favourite. I am sure that Andreas will return next year in order to gain his third trophy here.”

According to tournament director Wolfgang Wanker, Seppi’s wild card will be given to former world number 20 Dmitry Tursonov. The 32-year-old Russian is currently unranked, as he hasn’t played a singles main draw event since the US-Open 2014 due to foot injury. However, Tursonov has already celebrated a great comeback in doubles, winning the ATP 250 in Moscow two weeks ago alongside his compatriot Andrey Rublev.