Tennis on Film: Rating Borg vs. McEnroe (2017), an internationally awarded tennis film that doesn’t get enough credit

Patrick Mouratoglou's creation is coming to life this weekend. The Ultimate Tennis Showdownwill begin on Saturday at his academy in France. The six-week long tournament features David Goffin, Matteo Berrettini, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Richard Gasquet, Feliciano Lopez, Lucas Pouille, Alexei Popyrin, Dustin Brown, Benoit Paire and Dominic Thiem.

🔴 ON AIR 🔴#UTShowdown pic.twitter.com/PGVfvBIptR
— UTS | Ultimate Tennis Showdown (@UTShowdown) June 9, 2020

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Since Thiem is in Belgrade for the Adria Tour, he will join next weekend and is replaced temporarily by French 21-year-old Elliot Benchetrit. The UTS season takes place across six weeks with matches each weekend from June 13-July 12.

The tournament will be a shock to traditional tennis fans as Mouratoglou has turned the normal format on its head.

UTS reveals format and player nicknames

The basics are:

The promise of change and fun is already being delivered as each player has received a nickname. Please welcome the field:

Tsitsipas = "The Greek God"

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With long golden curls, his head held high and an imposing 6’4” stature, he looks like a hybrid between Zeus and tennis player.@StefTsitsipas is 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝙂𝙤𝙙. pic.twitter.com/DMtYI7XpBo
— UTS | Ultimate Tennis Showdown (@UTShowdown) June 11, 2020

Berrettini = "The Hammer"

Standing at a dizzying 6’5”, armed with a first serve averaging 128 mph and a forehand that nails down his opponents, he’s the new Thor of tennis.

Matteo Berrettini is 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧. pic.twitter.com/Q2mVjIuVM4
— UTS | Ultimate Tennis Showdown (@UTShowdown) June 11, 2020

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Goffin = "The Wall"

When you think you’ve outsmarted him or overpowered him, he sends back yet another powerball, and it has nothing to do with luck.@David__Goffin is 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙡. pic.twitter.com/udVGGec0oN
— UTS | Ultimate Tennis Showdown (@UTShowdown) June 11, 2020

Paire = "The Rebel"

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He’s never gone the conventional way, and it has proven successful for him. His game is just as unpredictable as his next hairstyle.@benoitpaire is 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙗𝙚𝙡. pic.twitter.com/PjobyNNa7W
— UTS | Ultimate Tennis Showdown (@UTShowdown) June 11, 2020

Lopez = "The Torero"

Fire in his eyes, elegant and experienced, he dances his way to the net like a bullfighter waving his red rag.@feliciano_lopez is 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙧𝙤. pic.twitter.com/zjHqsYv2gV
— UTS | Ultimate Tennis Showdown (@UTShowdown) June 11, 2020

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Pouille = "The French Flair"

On or off the court, he displays style, elegance and creativity.@la_pouille is 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙧. pic.twitter.com/yHAmroIX17
— UTS | Ultimate Tennis Showdown (@UTShowdown) June 11, 2020

Brown = "The Artist"

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Meet the #UTShowdown characters 🎬

First up — his game is retro-modern. His highlight reel is Hollywood-worthy. And he bought himself a dog with his first tennis earnings.@DreddyTennis is 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩. pic.twitter.com/hA75O563jD
— UTS | Ultimate Tennis Showdown (@UTShowdown) June 11, 2020

Popyrin = "The Sniper"

The moment he steps onto the court, he becomes a man possessed. His game fires him up, and he hits targets at will.@AlexeiPopyrin99 is 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙣𝙞𝙥𝙚𝙧. pic.twitter.com/wDLFnqMI0F
— UTS | Ultimate Tennis Showdown (@UTShowdown) June 11, 2020

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Gasquet = "The Virtuoso"

He’s been making headlines since he was 9 years old, and he’s more than lived up to them with 500+ career wins and a trio of Slam semifinals.@richardgasquet1 is 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙑𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙤𝙨𝙤. pic.twitter.com/IqdmtzGjYj
— UTS | Ultimate Tennis Showdown (@UTShowdown) June 11, 2020

Thiem = "Domi"

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Finally, someone who lives and breathes DOMI-nance. Our top seed will go by his original nickname.@ThiemDomi is 𝘿𝙤𝙢𝙞. pic.twitter.com/L4ktGyG8xR
— UTS | Ultimate Tennis Showdown (@UTShowdown) June 11, 2020

In a press conference, Mourataglou said “tennis is in a danger zone” with the average fan being 61 years old and “increasing with each year.” He thinks the game “desperately needs to reinvent itself" and said, "someone has to do it."

UTS reveals format and player nicknames

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