ORTISEI, August 13, 2021
The ATP Challenger Tour will return to South Tyrol, Italy later this year. This was announced by the organizers of the Sparkasse Challenger Val Gardena Südtirol earlier in the week. The 12the edition of the €44,820 indoor hard-court event will be held from November 6 to 14 at the Tennis Club Ortisei.
“We actually thought that our tournament will take place in the first week of November, but now we got spot during in the second week. Like in the past, it will be an ATP Challenger 80 tournament,” said Ellis Kasslatter, president of the organizing committee.
2019 champion Jannik Sinner will not return to his home tournament. It is held the same week as the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, where the 19-year-old from San Candido will try to defend his title he captured in 2019.
“Alles ging unglaublich schnell!” Eine Wahnsinns-Saison endet für @janniksin 🇮🇹 mit dem @tennisortisei Titelgewinn vor heimischer Kulisse. Die Eindrücke aus dem Grödnertal gibt’s hier: https://t.co/enOxwUsLV7
— Florian Heer (@Florian_Heer) November 18, 2019
“The tournament will take place in cooperation with the South Tyrolean medical company according to the local as well as the ATP health and safety protocol. Of course, there is great hope that we can welcome spectators again,” said Kasslatter. “And we also say thank you to all of ours sponsors that enable us to bring great tennis to South Tyrol.”
The Val Gardena Challenger has been held since 2010 and takes place for the 12th time this year. Local hero Andreas Seppi is the only player who lifted the trophy twice – in 2013 and 2014. He also reached the final in 2012. Last year, Ilya Ivashka of Belarus took the title when the tournament was held behind closed doors. He beat Antoine Hoang of France 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3) in the singles final.
