3 min read
This month on the UTR Pro Tennis Tour (PTT) saw Universal Tennis help host 16 events in the U.S., United Kingdom, Japan, Serbia, Greece, Germany, and Mexico.
The PTT has hosted over 20,000 professional matches in 24 countries worldwide since launching in 2021. Every PTT event has at least $25K in financial commitment with higher guaranteed payouts for players than $25K ITF events. The first half of the 2023 calendar will bring the total PTT prize money to $9 million and events to over 460.
It's time to spotlight some of the winners.
Sell Keeps Rolling
While juggling his YouTube channel My Tennis HQ and a coaching career (working with pro Marcos Giron and previously being the hitting partner for Naomi Osaka), Karue Sell decided to give competitive play another chance. In his first tournament since 2019, he won the $25K PTT in March in Newport Beach.
The 29-year-old repeated the feat a few weeks later, also in Newport Beach, defeating former Top 100 ATP pro Ernesto Escobedo (after first-set retirement) in the semifinals and seven-time PTT champion Maciej Rajski in the final. Sell documented his experience on his popular channel.
Sell didn't stop with the PTT as he went on to win the men's open at the prestigious Ojai Tennis Tournament in souther California. He's now on a 17-match win streak.
Mia Ristic Captures Second Pro Trophy
Just 16 years old, Mia Ristic won the $25K PTT in Serbia this month. Serbia hosted four events (two men's and two women's) on clay courts at the Red Star Club in Belgrade. The teen already has a WTA ranking of No. 409.
Just 16 years old, Mia Ristic won the $25K PTT in Serbia this month. Serbia hosted four events (two men's and two women's) on clay courts at the Red Star Club in Belgrade. The teen already has a WTA ranking of No. 409.
The other women's winner this month in Belgrade was Laura Svatikova, and the two men's titles went to Petr Nesterov and Yanais Laurent.
Gabriella Broadfoot Adds Second PTT in 2023
Another teenager picked up her second pro title with Gabriela Broadfoot winning in Boca Raton. She beat five-time PTT champion Mia Horvit in a third-set tiebreak in the final. The 18-year-old South African had also won the PTT in Boca in February. Like Ristic, Broadfoot is making her way up the WTA rankings, up to No. 355 this week. She's committed to playing college tennis at North Carolina State University starting this fall.
Progress Tour Hosts Another Successful Event
The Progress Tour, a series of events in the UK created by Barry Fulcher, hosted a women's and men's PTT in Norwich during the week of April 2-8.
Louis Bowden, an 18-year-old Brit, won the men's title, while Israel's Vlada Ekshibarova took home the women's. The Progress Tour will host another PTT the week of May 10 in Woodford Green.
"I have to say I enjoyed it so much," Ekshibarova said. "It was a great atmosphere and great people around. The idea of this event is incredible because you have so many matches, and you can earn some good money, so I think it’s really helpful for all the players."
Photo Gallery (Newport Beach and Serbia)
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.