Local to global: UTR Pro Match Series debuts May 8 on Tennis Channel

As the world begins reopening with caution amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Universal Tennis is doing its part to improve morale by safely bring tennis competition back to the forefront with a brand new initiative.

WTA Top 20-player Alison Riske and rising Americans Amanda Anisimova and Reilly Opelka headline the launch of the UTR Pro Match Series presented by Tennis Channel, a string of three-day prize money competitions marking the first live major sporting event with world-class athletes to air nationally in the U.S. since country-wide social distancing and isolation measures came into effect.

Held in the West Palm Beach, Fla. area, there will be no public access to the matches, which meet Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) compliance standards. A chair umpire will be present, with players receiving their own set of marked balls and designated off-court areas, while being responsible for providing their own drinks and towels.

Every match will air live on Tennis Channel and count toward a player’s UTR rating. The men’s tournament is set to run May 8-10, as Americans Opelka and Tommy Paul join Hubert Hurkacz (a replacement for Matteo Berrettini), who has been staying at Saddlebrook since mid-March, and Miomir Kecmanovic (who replaced Tennys Sandgren). In addition to Riske and Anisimova, the debut women’s tournament, slated for May 22-24, features former Grand Slam semifinalist Danielle Collins, along with Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic.

“The world has changed and we must adapt and innovate,” said Universal Tennis Chairman & CEO Mark Leschly. “Local, individual and small group play will be the new normal for the foreseeable future. The UTR Pro Match Series showcases how tennis can be played locally, safely and have results count toward the UTR global rating.”

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Andy Roddick, whose charisma and quick thinking has seamlessly harmonized with the Tennis Channel Live team over the past two months, will provide commentary via Skype to kick off coverage on Friday, May 8. Competitors will provide insight to Los Angeles-based Brett Haber and Prakash Amritraj throughout the event by utilizing headset technology.

“We’re excited to work with our longtime partners UTR to bring professional tennis and high-quality live sports coverage back to millions of tennis fans in the United States and Europe during this uniquely challenging moment,” said Ken Solomon, president of Tennis Channel.

Just before tour-play was suspended, Opelka triumphed at his hometown event in nearby Delray Beach for his second ATP title, while Paul climbed to a career-best No. 57 on March 2 after upsetting seventh-ranked Alexander Zverev in Acapulco. World No. 29 Hurkacz began the year 6-0, posting wins over Dominic Thiem, Diego Schwartzman and Borna Coric at the inaugural ATP Cup, while Kecmanovic enjoyed semifinal runs in Doha and Long Island.

Riske, who lost to world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in the round of 16 at Melbourne Park, was in Olympic-qualifying position as the No. 4-ranked American woman when the rankings were frozen. Anismova, No. 28, knocked off world No. 7 Elina Svitolina in her last match before withdrawing from Doha with gastrointestinal illness. Tomljanovic is currently stationed at the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton with Berrettini, and Collins is a native of St. Petersburg, roughly 200 miles northwest of West Palm Beach.

Universal Tennis intends to expand the series internationally, with Tennis Australia already planning events based around local guidelines and restrictions.