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The UTR Pro Tennis Tour (PTT) hosted 16 events in April in eight different countries, including the first-ever events in Brazil as well as events in the United Arab Emirates, The Netherlands, the United States, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, and Spain. All events guaranteed at least three matches per player and offered $20,000 in prize money, with the women's event in Dubai also providing free hospitality.
Californian 17-year-old Anne Lutkemeyer (UTR Rating 10.41) won her second PTT title in Newport Beach, Marie Benoit (11.30) captured the first women's event in Dubai, Victoria Rodriguez (11.01) won her sixth career PTT title, in Atlanta, and the Techset Academy in Rio hosted two men's events.
Teen Captures Newport Title
Irvine, Calif. native Lutkemeyer is on her way to UCLA this fall to start her freshman year and will have at least two pro titles on her already sparkling resume. She won one of the first-ever PTT events in Newport in January 2021. Competing in Newport again last week, Lutkemeyer went a perfect 6-0 with an upset over 2013 UCLA graduate Pamela Montez (11.25) in the final.
Women's PTT Makes Debut in Dubai
A few months after hosting two men's $30K+H PTT events, Rackets Academy in Dubai created match and prize money opportunities for women. In the first week of April, Rackets hosted the first $25K+H event, and Benoit, a 27-year-old Belgian making her PTT debut, defeated Dalila Jakupovic (11.31) in the final. The following week, Jakupovic bounced back to capture the second $25K+H Dubai event.
"The facility is really nice, and we are in a good area near the beach so we can recover there after the matches," Benoit said. "Obviously, I needed some matches so this was the perfect system for me to play matches and to improve day by day."
Rodriguez Picks Up Sixth Title
Rodriguez has made the most of the PTT by playing in 10 events in the U.S. in 2021 and 2022, winning six of them. Her overall record is an impressive 48-6. The 27-year-old Mexican hasn't won a singles title on the ITF Tour since 2018, but won her 22nd doubles ITF title last year in Cancun. She has won nine of her doubles titles with 11-time PTT champion and compatriot Marcela Zacarias.
Pro Tennis Launches in Rio
Techset Academy hosted two men's $25K PTT events in Rio, making Brazil the second new country in 2022, following the United Arab Emirates. The third new country is Slovakia, which is set to host its first events in July, and Greece will start hosting in August.
During the first week of April, Brazil's Jose Pereira (13.69) won the inaugural Rio trophy over compatriot Wilson Leite (13.36). At the second $25K the following week, Pereira and Leite faced off in the final again, this time with Leite walking away as the champion.
Chepelev Wins Titles on PTT and ITF Tours
Over in Europe, Andrey Chepelev (13.71) dropped just one set in six matches to capture a Barcelona $25K PTT to kick off his April of winning. He followed up that successful week, which marked his second PTT crown, by winning an M25 ITF in Cairo during the week of April 18. The 23-year-old plays a lot of consecutive weeks on the PTT, ITF, and ATP Challenger Tours.
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About the UTR Pro Tennis Tour
The PTT is open to players with a UTR Ranking of 200-2000, and wild cards can be awarded to those players with a UTR Ranking of 1-199 or above 2000. Every PTT event creates matchplay opportunities for up-and-coming, collegiate, and pro players thanks to a unique round-robin format. At every event, a group round-robin stage is followed by a World Cup-style playoff, guaranteeing multiple matches and counting all results towards the UTR Rating, the most accurate rating system in tennis. Every PTT event offers 4-5 matches and a minimum of $20,000 in prize money with an earnings guarantee for every participant.
For more information about UTR PTT and to see all of the results, click here.
UTR Ratings as of May 2, 2022, at 9 a.m. EST.