Sponsored by Keith Prowse

A NEW TYPE OF TENNIS

With the exception of former pros and the late Nick Bollitieri, few coaches have transcended the confines of the courts. But in recent years, with his Grand Slam-winning coaching of Serena Williams, the growth of his tennis academy empire (with centres in the South of France, Greece and Dubai) and his canny use of Instagram, Patrick Mouratoglou has become something of a household name (if your household loves tennis). And with his travelling tennis league, the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS), he’s doing what he does best: thinking passionately about ways to improve the game, provoking stuffy traditionalists along the way. 

Lucky Londoners will get a chance to experience the spectacle of his fast-paced tennis format when UTS comes to London’s ExCel Centre from 15th - 17th December. Country club tennis, this is not. This is tennis like you have never seen it before: it’s a chance to see the world’s most charismatic players express themselves, roast each other and hit outrageous trick shots.

Billed as “the world’s newest, most exciting, innovative tennis league’, UTS is an entirely new format that aims to light a fire under tennis’s ass and bring a new crowd to the game (the average age of a tennis fan is 61-years-old). In the pursuit of enlivening new fans, Mouratoglou has created a fun, flashy event that’s designed to blur the lines between all-action sport and entertainment. Those who saw the electrifying qualifiers in LA and Frankfurt over the last few months, will have enjoyed the drastic changes to the way the game is normally played. Fast-paced matches are composed of four quarters (eight minutes each) where live coaching is allowed, creating a rowdy team sports energy. The code of conduct is also less strict, allowing players to be more expressive: they can scream, shout, smash rackets and celebrate as excessively as they like. If you’ve enjoyed your own short sets, timed games and sudden death points in fun training sessions, remember the pro’s enjoy this just as much as you do, so you’ll see them at their joyous best.

Each player has their alter ego. For the London edition, big names battling it out include Andrey Rublev (Rublo), Gaël Monfils (La Monf), Casper Ruud (Ice-Man) and newly announced Holger Rune (The Viking) and Jack Draper. At the next event in Seoul, Nick Kyrgios (The King) will make his long awaited return to the court, alongside Milos Raonic (The Missile), Reilly Opelka (The Bot), and Alexander Bublik (The Enemy). Although he won’t be playing the London leg, our BAGEL cover star Frances Tiafoe, (Big Foe), is a big fan of the event, playing the recent LA iteration. He endorses UTS’s aim to make the sport more attractive to a new fanbase and more fun for the players themselves. 

So for a few days only, London gets the chance to see the sport in a new light. Mid-match player interviews will give you a glimpse of what’s inside the player’s minds at crucial parts of the game. Players, coaches, commentators and fans will be mic’d up and interacting (mainly during changing of ends, but sometimes during the points themselves!) And if you want an extra special experience of the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, either as that perfect Christmas party, event or present - check out the premium experiences available from UTS London’s Official Hospitality Partner, Keith Prowse (award-winning Official Hospitality Partners to Wimbledon and Queen’s), which offer everything from VIP bar access to a guaranteed premium VIP courtside seat! 

UTS Baseline

  • A ticket + drinks package

  • To drink: complimentary bar of wine, beer and soft drinks

  • Your view: premium grandstand tickets behind the baseline

  • Closer to the action: access to VIP bar in the Capital Suites, 3pm-10pm

UTS Premium Lounge

  • To eat: afternoon tea, two course buffet

  • To drink: complimentary bar of wine, beer and soft drinks

  • Dining style: individual places in shared lounge

  • Your view: VIP courtside tickets – side-on to the players

  • Closer to the action: VIP hospitality offered in the Capital Suites 3pm-10pm, seats located first few rows on court, closest to the players

UTS On-Court Advantage

  • includes a signed fan article and 1 hour on-court tennis clinic (currently on Thursday 14th December) with a UTS player or Patrick himself!

  • To Eat: Two course buffet and afternoon tea

  • To Drink: Upgraded, inclusive bar of Champagne, wine, beer and spirits

  • Dining Style: Individual places an intimate setting (max 10 covers)

  • Your view: VIP tickets in players’ box – side-on to the players,

  • Closer to the action: VIP suite access 3pm-10pm*, seats located first few rows on court, closest to the players