Miami, Fla. (June 3, 2026) – UTR Sports, a global leader in tennis and creator of the world-class UTR Rating, today announced a groundbreaking series of events that will give junior tennis players of all levels the chance to learn and connect with elite college tennis players nationwide.
UTR College Series events will be led by top women’s tennis players at the University of Southern California (USC) and Duke University on campus later this summer. For junior tennis players, the high-performance events will feature Verified UTR Matches and unlock exclusive insights into the college tennis recruiting process. Players will compete in college-like dual matches and be mentored by top USC and Duke players.
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For those college student-athletes, these pioneering opportunities will provide chances to give back and allow them to benefit from NIL reform currently transforming college athletics.
“UTR Sports is thrilled to launch this creative solution for college tennis. For years, UTR has helped college tennis coaches generate millions of dollars in revenue. Now, with these innovative partnerships, we’re passionate about extending that same support to student-athletes,” said Chase Hodges, Senior Vice President at UTR Sports and 23-time national champion. “For junior tennis players and their parents, these events will provide an incredible opportunity to be immersed in the collegiate tennis environment, learn about the recruiting process, and fully understand what it takes to compete at the next level.”
USC and Duke players alike are eager for the upcoming opportunities. The UTR College Series at USC will take place from August 15-16, with Duke’s event scheduled for August 29-30.
“We’re really excited to be part of the UTR College Series and to show junior players what college tennis is like. It’ll be super fun to see them compete and to show them around our campus and facilities,” said Eleana Yu, a top-rated player at Duke University (UTR Rating 10.37).
Yu, who competed in the 2022 US Open women’s singles draw, will be joined by Duke teammates Liv Hovde, 2022 Wimbledon girls’ singles champion (UTR 10.40); Claire An (UTR 10.18); and Ava Krug (UTR 9.42).
Simone Kay, a top player at USC (UTR 9.78), is excited for the junior players to feel what it’s like to play collegiate tennis. “I can’t wait to share the electric atmosphere of a dual match with junior players and inspire them to love the game as much as we do. I’m incredibly excited to be part of something new alongside my amazing teammates, helping develop and guide the next generation of tennis players. USC is home, and David X. Marks Tennis Stadium has always been my home court.”
Joining Kay will be her USC teammates Krisha Mahendran (UTR 10.36); Lexi Wolf (UTR 9.54); and Daniela Borruel (UTR 10.18).
Learn more about how UTR Sports is elevating college tennis
About UTR Sports
The mission of UTR Sports is to connect and grow the sports of tennis and pickleball with accurate global ratings, innovative software and events, and a global community centered around level-based play. The UTR Sports Platform is anchored by our renowned ratings technology. UTR Sports provides the technology and solutions relevant and valuable to players, from recreational to professional, coaches, and organizers. UTR Sports is the first racquet sports platform to combine world-class analytics, global travel and premium activewear benefits into a single Power membership. UTR Sports is creating opportunities and pathways, including the UTR Pro Tennis Tour, for players from all over the world, in all stages of life, to find better matches and unlock a more fun, affordable, and flexible experience.