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The UTR Pro Tennis Tour hosted 19 men's and women's events in May in eight countries from North America to Australia. Each event guaranteed at least three matches per player and offered $20,000 in prize money. Let's learn more about some of the champions.
Aspen Schuman captured her first pro title at the PTT $25K in Newport Beach, while Matija Pecotic, Ilya Snitari, and 17-year-old Luciana Perry capped off May as repeat PTT champions.
Youngster Wins in Newport
During the first week of May, 14-year-old Aspen Schuman (10.43) won all six of her matches at the Tennis and Pickleball Club in Newport Beach, Calif. She upset Paris Corley (10.48) in the final in three sets to secure the title. Schuman has enjoyed plenty of success in 2022, winning a USTA U18 Level 2 Nationals in San Diego in February and finishing in third place at the U16 Easter Bowl in April.
Based in Southern California, Schuman played in three PTT events in Newport last year when her best finish was making the semifinals. She's currently in the eighth grade and will graduate high school in 2026.
Newport Beach was the host site for two more events in May, including a joint men's and women's tournament during the week of May 19. The men's crown was captured by 19-year-old Aidan Mayo (13.48) while former Oklahoma State University standout Megan McCray (10.38) won the women's title. Sema Pankin (13.19), a senior at the University of Portland, captured the men's $25K during the final week of May.
Perry Picks Up Another Pro Crown
During the last week of May in Austin, Texas, Luciana Perry (10.20) dropped just one set in six matches to capture her second PTT title. The Pittsburg native won her first PTT event last October in Atlanta. Like Schuman, Perry has been a highly ranked junior and has secured a place on the Ohio State University tennis team for the Class of 2023.
Luciana Perry (UTR Rating 10.07) has made a huge splash this year on the UTR Pro Tennis Tour, capturing a title at just 16 years old. Though still just a junior in high school, she has verbally committed to Ohio State University for 2023.
— Universal Tennis (@UniversalTennis) December 27, 2021
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Another 16-year-old, Mia Ristic, won the PTT $25K women's title in Nis, Serbia during the week of May 23. The teen dropped just one set in six matches. It's Ristic's second pro title after winning another PTT $25K in Nis last October.
Snitari Continues to Shine in 2022
Ilyn Snitari started his 2022 season as the first-ever PTT champion in Dubai, where the Rackets Academy offered the most prize money ($30K) and free hospitality. The 20-year-old Moldovian played on the ITF Tour, mostly in Egypt, since then as well as competed in PTT events in Europe. In April, he reached an ITF M15 final in Antalya, Turkey, and followed it with his second career PTT title in Nis, Serbia in May.
Pecotic Capitalizes in Boca
At the Rick Macci Academy in Boca Raton, Matija Pecotic (14.02) emerged the champion after six matches. The 32-year-old Croatian has been ranked as high as No. 206 on the ATP Tour and was the top seed. He was pushed to three sets in the semifinals by Sebastian Gorzny and in the final by Connor Farren. Pecotic has found success on the PTT before, winning in Croatia last July.
One of the newest host sites, the Rick Macci Academy is hosting three more men's and two more women's events this summer. New to the 2022 calendar, Japan will host its first PTT events in July with a men's $25K in Hyogo during the week of July 4 and July 11.
Dayne Kelly Dominates in Adelaide
Australia's Dayne Kelly (13.65) won 12 matches in a row to win back-to-back PTT $25K men's titles in Adelaide. The 31-year-old is currently ranked just inside of the Top 500 on the ATP Tour. He also competed in two PTT events in 2021, both in Canberra.
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 Feb. 28, 2022, at 9 a.m. EST.