Australia’s pro tennis players will have the opportunity to compete for $450,000 prize money in a new domestic series – the UTR Pro Tennis Series.
The UTR Pro Tennis Series has featured stops in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. The second round of events in Sydney Olympic Park are set to get underway from July 8 – 12, with first round winners Ellen Perez (Wollongong, NSW) and Max Purcell (Belrose, NSW) returning to the court.
“With so much of the tennis season still uncertain, our aim through the UTR Pro Tennis Series is to give as many of our athletes the chance to compete and, importantly, also earn prize money, after months of not being able to make their living playing the sport they have devoted their lives to,” Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley explained.
“Our team has put an enormous amount of time and effort into the planning of these events, and have worked closely with the authorities and tennis staff around the country on the ground to ensure they are run according to strict local biosecurity protocols.”
The first phase of the UTR Pro Tennis Series will run until August, with the possibility of extending further depending on the resumption of the global tours (ATP/WTA/ITF).
Event organisers have worked closely with government authorities in each state to ensure strict physical distancing protocols will be in place, along with additional hygiene and safety precautions. On court personnel will be limited, with a chair umpire, minimal lines-people and no ball kids. Players will bring their own towels.
Players are entering using their Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), giving them an opportunity to compete locally and have their results count globally via the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) system.
“We are excited to work with Tennis Australia to bring the UTR Pro Tennis Series to the country and provide an innovative way for professionals to compete close to home safely and have their results count on a global scale,” Universal Tennis Chairman and CEO Mark Leschly said.
“Every tennis player – from social and league players to pros – in Australia can use Universal Tennis to measure their competitive ability. Players who have participated in Tennis Australia comps and tournaments already have a UTR, and can view their rating and register for events on MyUTR.com for free.”
Sydney is excited to welcome Abbie Myers, Ellen Perez and Alexander Bozovic along with a range of other exciting Pro players to the state tennis centre this week on the women’s draw. The men’s draw features high caliber players including Max Purcell, Christopher O’Connell, Aleksander Vukic and Rinky Hijikata.
Fast facts:
• The UTR Pro Tennis Series is hosting tournaments in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
• Players will enter based on their UTR ranking available here
• The format will feature round robin matches for the first three days, followed by a finals day with all players competing for final positions
• Strict biosecurity protocols will be in place, with limited numbers allowed onsite, no handshakes, increased hygiene practices (such as encouraging handwashing and use of hand sanitiser), and players will provide their own towels.
LIVE STREAMING OF ALL MATCHES
Watch all matches from the event for free via the below link
https://www.youtube.com/user/TennisAustralia
LIVE SCORING OF ALL MATCHES
https://crionet-ms-widgets.azurewebsites.net/public/U99wgWXPDEu3Dx7nCDuVGg
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