ATP Challenger: Sinner-Mania in Ortisei
Seven days "Sinnermania" in the snowy Val Gardena ends with the tournament victory of the 18-year-old Italian at the 10th edition of Sparkasse Challenger Val Gardena South Tyrol. Jannik Sinner defeated in the final of the 46,600 euros endowed ATP Challenger event the Austrian Sebastian Ofner with 6: 2, 6: 4.
by Florian Heer
last edit: Nov 17, 2019, 04:41 pm
By Florian Heer from Ortisei
Fueled by the surprising success at the next-gen ATP finals in Milan in the previous week, the hype surrounding the local hero in South Tyrol was enormous. In the actually rather idyllic and quiet mountainside this time of year, there were suddenly representatives of the press and press from various countries, in addition to the well-known local journalists. In addition to the affiliated pizzeria of the tennis club Ortisei was at the beginning of the week at short notice a press conference granted, as Sinners management had announced for further interviews during his home appearance not available. A measure to stop fueling the hype surrounding the youngest player in the top 100 ATP World Ranking list.
Sinner as Seppi successor
When Sinner served out the match on Sunday afternoon after 66 minutes with his sixth ace, however, all the dams collapsed and the hall, which sold out with 500 people, cheered their local heroes loudly.
The teenager from South Tyrol thus follows in the footsteps of Andreas Seppi, who won his home tournament in 2013 and 2014. It was the end of an incredible season for Sinner. In addition to two titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour, he won his first ATP Challenger event in Bergamo in February and six months later at the US Hard Courts in Lexington. The year was crowned by the coup in Milan.
The circle closes in Ortisei
"Everything went incredibly fast," Sinner said during the award ceremony. "It was not too long ago, I was sitting here in the stands watching Andreas's matches. Winning here now is an incredible feeling. Finishing the season in front of the great crowd in the fantastic atmosphere is great. Family and friends are here, the organization was great. Everything was perfect. "
Sinner's stellar journey also began in Ortisei a year ago when he won his first challenger-level match. Now he leaves the venue with 6,190 euros prize money and another 80 ATP ranking points, which let him finish the season in 73rd place in the ranking.
"I think I did that very well," he said with his understatement for laughs among the spectators. "Now I deserve a break to return to the field stronger next year."
Ofner satisfied with week
Also Sebastian Ofner has been able to gain a lot of positive from the last seven days in the Val Gardena. "It was not a bad final. Jannik is a great player and it's difficult to play against him, "said the 23-year-old Austrian.
"Unfortunately I could not get my best tennis, but overall I'm satisfied with the week. Now it's just as good to start the new year. "
However, Ofner was worried about an injury-related treatment between the sentences. "The Achilles' eyes have begun to tweak on both sides. This has already started in the quarterfinals against Lorenzo Musetti. Unfortunately, from yesterday onwards, it began to hurt more, which was not beneficial against a player like Jannik. It will probably need further treatment. But I hope that it will be good again within one to two weeks. "