Palo Alto, CA, Jan. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Universal Tennis and Tennis Australia will bring the best of college tennis to Australia in 2024, with details of the all-new UTR College Match Challenge event being finalised ahead of next year’s Australian Open.
Set to further promote the opportunities and benefits of the pathway, the UTR College Match Challenge will provide aspiring Aussie players with exposure to the high level of competition available to athletes involved in the well-proven American college pathway.
“We are excited to bring college tennis back to Australia,” said Universal Tennis Chairman and CEO Mark Leschly. “Universal Tennis continues to forge new ways to elevate the collegiate game, and there is no better place than in Melbourne at the highest level of the sport.”
With planning already underway, the best of U.S. college tennis will be on display with division one men's and women's college teams travelling to Australia in January to contest NCAA regular-season matchups on Aussie soil.
"The college pathway continues to be considered and favoured by many of our aspiring Aussie athletes and the UTR College Match Challenge is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the high level of competition being played by college athletes," said Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley.
"Most recently, the likes of Petra Hule, Astra Sharma, and Rinky Hjikata have proven the benefits of college tennis, and Tennis Australia continues to advocate for aspiring Aussie hopefuls to consider the pathway as a viable option for players working towards a professional playing career."
Tennis Australia is proud to partner with Universal Tennis. The UTR Rating is the official rating of Tennis Australia.
As planning continues, the teams, further details, and dates of the UTR College Match Challenge for 2024 will be announced.
About Universal Tennis
The mission of Universal Tennis is to connect and grow the sports of tennis and pickleball with innovative events and a global digital marketplace centered around level-based play. The Universal Tennis Engagement Platform is anchored by the UTR Rating, the world’s most accurate singles and doubles tennis rating system. Universal Tennis provides the tools and solutions to make the UTR Rating relevant and valuable to players, coaches, and organizers in their local tennis communities. Universal Tennis is creating opportunities and pathways for players from all over the world, in all stages of life, to find better matches and unlock a more fun and flexible tennis experience. Go to UniversalTennis.com to sign up, activate your player profile, and join the global tennis community. Watch our video and connect on social @UniversalTennis to learn more.
Starting in early 2023, Universal Tennis will offer one home for tennis and pickleball, beginning a new chapter by bringing a pickleball rating and technology solutions to another racquet sport. Universal Tennis will enable its customers to use its pickleball rating and event management software to create accessible, competitive level-based events.
About UTR Pro Tennis Tour (PTT)
The UTR Pro Tennis Tour officially began on January 1, 2021, with a three-year commitment of over $20M to support tennis globally with prize money, venue support, technology, logistics, and competitive play opportunities. Universal Tennis is the owner and organizing body of the UTR Pro Tennis Tour (PTT), with responsibility for its Rules and Regulations, Code of Conduct, Tournament Format, and related streaming and commercial rights. The UTR Pro Tennis Tour was started to create a development tour. With fewer events and substantially reduced prize money, aspiring professional players are increasingly struggling in the pursuit of their dreams. Working with host venues and national Federations, Universal Tennis provides additive and complementary opportunities to help emerging players and the broader tennis community.
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