⚡️ Lightening Tennis

While the Davis Cup was making the headlines over the past week, another tennis format was being played in Frankfurt. German crowds were treated to the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS), an energetic, fast and playful individual competition founded by Patrick Mouratoglou.

It sound likes a sexually transmitted disease, what is UTS?
Started in 2020 under Covid conditions, Mouratoglou saw an opportunity to launch a new form of tennis, one which would hopefully attract a newer and more younger audience to the game.

“The average tennis fan is 61 years old and that number is increasing each year,” the aim was to appeal to a, “new generation of fans in order to grow [tennis’] fanbase community.”

In short, UTS is described as: the world’s newest, most exciting, innovative tennis league, playing an entirely reinvented game format.

The competition is played over 3 days. This year, the UTS has 3 events in LA (July), Frankfurt (September and Seoul (December).

How is it different from “normal” tennis?
Unlike traditional tennis, UTS hopes to bring fans closer to the action - to be the third player. The key differences are:

• Fast-paced matches composed of 4 quarters of 8 minutes each

• Live coaching allowed and live-streamed to the fans

• Mid-match interviews to get inside of the players’ mind

• An emphasis on strategy with the introduction UTS bonus cards

• Suspense with decisive points and sudden deaths

• A lightened code of conduct

Despite it being set up for entertainment, UTS claims to be a real competition that players take seriously. It is not an exhibition, Mouratoglou claims.

Who plays it?
So far the UTS is only been played by men. Some big names have attended, including: Ruud, Rublev, Zverev, Berrentini, Monfils, Tsistipas, Fritz, Paire, Tiafoe and Dimitrov.

Has it been successful?
The format is definitely something different and no denying the entertainment factor is dialled up. Despite it being “serious competition” it has allowed players to be more themselves and show off some of their amazing talents. For players like Monfils, Paire and Bublik, the format with music, bonus cards and an award for “best shot” is very well suited, but also as much, appreciated by the crowd.

This year is the first year for the tournament to be played in front of a non-restricted crowd, but so far the LA and Frankfurt events were sold out. Mouratoglou who secured funding to extend the competition says the tournament level is “… at 70%. There is 30% improvement, which is a lot.”

What happened in Frankfurt?
Making his UTS debut Andrey “Rublo” Rublev (players get nicknames as part of the competition) won through to the final and took the title with a 3-1 victory over Grigor “G-Unit” Dimitrov on Sunday.

In a final that had everything, from jaw-dropping rallies, to bromance, round-the-post shots and stolen quarters, Rublo prevailed 14-13, 12-17, 11-10, 17-16 for the narrowest of victories at UTS Frankfurt.

Rublev declared that, “[I was] more lucky today,” after the match, adding that it was an encounter where, “I was laughing more, but the frustration was still the same.”

His trophy? Well an audacious lightening rod, what else…

 ⏰ Shot Clock

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👋 Holger Rune pulls out of Laver Cup. The Dane is going through treatment on his back which he has attributed his poor run of results too. Davidovich Fokina will replace him foe team Europe.

🤔 Nadal gives statement on GS race. Speaking to Moviestar Plus+ in his first interview since announcing his retirement, Rafael Nadal says finishing without the all-time Grand Slam record "would have been a greater frustration" for Novak Djokovic than it would be for him.

🐲 Tennis returns to China. Both the WTA & ATP kick-off the Asian swing with tournament play returning to China for the first time since 2020. The Guangzhou Open starts for the women, while in Chengdu, Zverev heads the field and at the Zhuhai Championships, Andy Murray headlines.

🥑 3 Changes That Made Djokovic A God

The boys over at Top Tennis Training take us through what they think took Novak Djokovic from mere tennis mortal to a tennis god. Checkout the video below…