Tennis Stars' Off-Season Controversy Unveiled

Reasons for Participating in UTS Grand Final

Eight top tennis players are competing at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in London this weekend. They all emphasized their reasons for wanting to compete during the off-season, citing everything from the significant prize money to their meticulous preparations. Alex de Minaur, for instance, sees it as a nice "fine-tuning moment" in the middle of his pre-season. He mentioned that although he is playing these matches, there is still a lot of behind-the-scenes work involved, including hours spent in the gym and on the practice court. This ensures that his body is in the right shape when the season begins.

Andrey Rublev explained that the intensity at UTS is extremely high. He compared it to a normal endurance recovery during pre-season, stating that there is no such fire in regular workouts. At UTS, he experiences an endurance workout filled with emotions and adrenaline as he is competing, which gives him an extra edge and preparation.

The Appeal of Prize Money

Some players, as Billie Jean King suggested, are lured by the substantial prize money. Even those who lose three round-robin matches walk away with £78k. Thanasi Kokkinakis admitted that the prize money influenced his decision to play. He said, "It helps make a living. It's honestly that simple. This is one of the perks of playing for sure." For him, it's not just about the financial aspect; the excitement and the crowd's energy also add to the allure.

World No. 33 Ugo Humbert also emphasized that UTS is not a traditional exhibition. He stated, "It's not really an exhibition, it's a tournament. We all play 100 per cent, so I'm super happy to be here. It's nice for my preparation for next season. I work on my cardio this week." This shows that the players view UTS as a serious tournament with a purpose.

Viewing UTS as Part of Training

Most players see UTS as an integral part of their training block. Holger Rune, for example, considers it just a part of his pre-season. He said, "It's just a part of the pre-season for me. I've been training for three weeks to make myself ready for Australia, and UTS is a part of it to make me ready." This highlights how UTS fits into their overall training and preparation strategy.

Gael Monfils, a showman at heart, sees UTS as a chance to showcase his flair. He said, "The prize money is great. But to be honest, for myself, the format is great. Sometimes I come here to more entertain, now I'm coming and playing a little bit more seriously to try and find my game for the pre-season." This shows that UTS offers players a unique opportunity to combine entertainment with serious training.

Adding to the Tennis Calendar

While there is no denying that tennis players need more opportunities to recuperate during the long season, the UTS stars have thought long and hard about their decision to play in London. They no longer see these one-of-a-kind tournaments as mere exhibitions. As Struff argued, "I think if you shorten your holidays to play here, this means a lot already. We all can use a bit more holidays during the year, it's pretty packed and full, but I feel like every player likes to play these events, everybody is fighting full." This shows that UTS has become an important part of the tennis calendar for these players.