SELVA GARDENA/STARNBERG, November 1, 2025

Three years after his first triumph, Austria’s Sandro Kopp has done it again. The 25-year-old from North Tyrol captured his second “Raiffeisen ITF Men’s Val Gardena Südtirol” title, defeating 20-year-old Italian Filippo Romano 6–4, 7–6(4) in the final at the TC Gherdeina. The top seed claimed the crown at the $15,000 event and once more earned the nickname “King of Selva Gardena.”

It was Kopp’s eighth ITF World Tennis Tour career title – and his second in Val Gardena, both on hard court, a surface less familiar to him. “I always enjoy playing here,” Kopp said after his victory. “The altitude suits me, since I often train at high altitude back home in Tyrol. I love the surroundings and the people here. I stayed calm in the final, even though I had the chance to serve it out at 5–4. Romano played really well at that stage, and in the tiebreak it was razor-thin – one ball made the difference in the end.”

With the win, Kopp – currently ranked World No. 333 – moves closer to his career-high of No. 307. He plans to play two more Futures events before stepping up to the ATP Challenger Tour later this season.

The path to the title was far from easy. In the quarterfinals, Kopp dropped his only set of the tournament against defending champion Giovanni Oradini of Trentino. His semifinal win, 6–4, 6–4, over Slovenia’s Ziga Sesko, just 17 years old, was high-quality tennis – a match worthy of a final. Sesko, already known for his Wimbledon Junior performances, thrilled the crowd with fearless attacking play and youthful energy.

In the final, Filippo Romano, who impressed with his offensive game, narrowly missed out on the singles trophy but still left Wolkenstein with a title. The Italian captured the doubles championship, marking his tenth doubles crown of the season – including two at the Challenger level. “It’s been a great week,” Romano said. “I’m happy with my performances, especially in doubles, where things are really clicking right now.”

Beyond the courts, the TC Gherdeina once again showcased flawless organization. Club president Ingo Mair, joined by tournament host Margot Demetz, thanked sponsors, officials, and spectators during the trophy ceremony. Coach Stefano Bassetto, head of the club’s tennis academy, was also praised for his dedication, traveling across Italy with his young players such as Laura Mair and Lisa Peer.

However, local success also highlights a challenge: with only two indoor courts, the club is reaching its capacity limits. “Covering the outdoor courts in St. Christina would be ideal,” said a club representative, “especially to support the growing number of young talents training through the winter.”

FITP South Tyrol president Marco Cordaro expressed satisfaction with the event: “Tournaments like this are an excellent platform for our homegrown players. Nicola Rispoli from Merano qualified and won two main-draw matches. Daniel Haller and Tim Stuffer also impressed.”

For Pietro Fellin from Brixen, the home tournament provided a rare chance to compete on South Tyrol’s fast courts. Together with his brother Manfred, he reached the doubles semifinals, where the eventual champions ended their run.

In the end, though, all applause belonged to one man – Sandro Kopp. Calm, composed, and clutch under pressure, the Tyrolean once again proved that he thrives at altitude – both in spirit and in performance – confirming his status as the undisputed “King of Selva Gardena.”

Results Summary

Singles – Semifinals:
[1] Sandro Kopp (AUT) def. [JR] Ziga Sesko (SLO) 6–4, 6–4
[8] Filippo Romano (ITA) def. Niklas Schell (GER) 4–6, 6–4, 6–4

Singles – Final:
[1] Sandro Kopp (AUT) def. [8] Filippo Romano (ITA) 6–4, 7–6(4)

Doubles – Final:
[4] C. Müller / N. Schell (GER/GER) def. [3] G. Volpi / F. Romano (ITA/ITA) 6–2, 6–4

Winners’ Roll:
2025 – Sandro Kopp (Austria)
2024 – Giovanni Oradini (Italy)
2023 – Stefano Napolitano (Italy)
2022 – Sandro Kopp (Austria)
2021 – Leandro Riedi (Switzerland)
2019 – Facundo Diaz Acosta (Argentina)
2018 – Peter Heller (Germany)