UTS – Commitments, new rules, program, timetables… All about the 4th edition

Participants and format

They will be eight on the starting line divided into two pools of four players. Diego Schwartzman (world number 10), Grigor Dimitrov (20th), Cristian Garin (23rd) and Alexander Bublik (38th) make up group A, while Daniil Medvedev (world number 2), Fabio Fognini (29th), Taylor Fritz (32nd) ) and Corentin Moutet (70th) are gathered in group B. Each competitor meets his three group opponents in this first phase.

A match takes place in four 8-minute quarters (instead of 10 previously). The player who wins the most quarter wins the game. In the event of a tie two quarters everywhere, a last quarter called sudden death is launched: the first to gain two points in a row is then required. Like the Masters format, at the end of these group matches, the first two in each group qualify for the semi-finals which will be played on Tuesday evening. And finally, the winners of the semi-finals meet in the final for the title.

The group matches program and timetables

Monday, May 24th

At 15h : Corentin Moutet (FRA) – Taylor Fritz (EU)
A 15h45 : Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) – Cristian Garin (CHI)
A 16h30 : Diego Schwartzman (ARG) – Alexander Bublik (KAZ)
A 17h15 : Daniil Medvedev (RUS) – Fabio Fognini (ITA)

A 19h15 : Diego Schwartzman (ARG) – Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
A 20h : Daniil Medvedev (RUS) – Corentin Moutet (FRA)
A 20h45 : Taylor Fritz (EU) – Fabio Fognini (ITA)
At 9:30 p.m .: Alexander Bublik (KAZ) – Cristian Garin (CHI)

Tuesday 25 May

At 15h : Fabio Fognini (ITA) – Corentin Moutet (FRA)
A 15h45 : Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) – Alexander Bublik (KAZ)
A 16h30 : Taylor Fritz (EU) – Daniil Medvedev (RUS)
A 17h15 : Diego Schwartzman (ARG) – Cristian Garin (CHI)

Rules: new features and a few reminders

The unique service: During this 4th edition, the players will not have, as they are used to on the circuit, a second service ball. A failed engagement will therefore directly cost the point.

No-let : On serve, if the ball hits the strip of the net but remains in the correct square, the point will continue, without having to be replayed as is currently the case. After a toss which will determine the first to engage, each of the two players will have alternately two services each.

Sudden death : In the event of a tie two quarters everywhere, a decisive 5th quarter called “sudden death” will be played. Whoever has gained the most points in the first four quarters will serve first. In this special quarter, each player will serve once alternately and the first to gain two points in a row will win.

Coaching : The players ‘coaches will be permanently present on the players’ chairs. They can therefore give as much advice as they want, provided they do not do so during the game and do not contravene the 15 seconds of time allowed between each point. But there will no longer be any downtime dedicated to authorized coaching.

The 6 UTS cards and their use

Each player must choose two cards from the four offered to him before each match. He can use them during each quarter once each (and not both at the same time) during any change of service, except during sudden death. These cards offer challenges intended to put the opponent in difficulty or to increase his capital of points more quickly, there are six types detailed below.

• “+ 1 serve”: This card gives an additional service (therefore a second ball) to the player who uses it.
• “Steal serve”: The player “steals” the opposing service, that is to say he serves for 4 consecutive points.
• “Win in 3 shots max”: When a player plays this card, he forces his opponent to gain the point in 3 shots or less. If the latter hits a 4th, he automatically loses the point.
• “Winners count x3”: The player who uses this card will earn 3 points for each winning move. So the interested party can win a maximum of 6 on a serving streak.
• “Next point counts x2”: The next point counts double if it is won by the player who uses this card.
• “Serve and volley”: The player who uses this card forces his opponent to play a serve-volley. If the latter does not follow up with the net, he automatically loses the point.