Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) Grand Final London: Field, Format, Schedule, Draw and Predictions

While the off season is well underway, the final event as such of the season will take place between Friday December 5 - Sunday December 7 in the form of the UTS Grand Final.

Hosted by Patrick Mouratoglou, it has been a concept which has been in effect since lockdown and sees a different angle placed on the sport of tennis.

It sees quarters played instead of sets and will be played this year at the Copper Box Arena in London.

The eight players will compete in two Round Robin groups with the top two in each group moving through to the semi-finals. Each session sees each group highlighted.

Each match consists of four quarters of 8 minutes + the time of a hypothetical Sudden Death. The timer stops during the 3-minute changeover at the end of each quarter.

The 1st player to win 3 QTS wins the match. If both players are tied at 2 QTs apiece, the 5th QT is played in a ‘Sudden Death’ format.

Samuel Gill, Head Editor of TennisUpToDate.com sees Alex de Minaur retaining the title.

First of all, it is a massive shame that Jack Draper isn't playing as no doubt he would've been a massive selling point when it comes to the tournament being played again in London.

But Alex de Minaur was so good last year so no doubt he will be again. He faces Adrian Mannarino first and I see Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud also showing their class.

Albeit he has been injured, this game style has often favoured the weird and wonderful so I think Ugo Humbert could thrive again. But all bets are off really as this format is so short and sharp and provides opportunity for the showmen to shine.

*** Alex de Minaur

** Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud

* Ugo Humbert, Adrian Mannarino, Tomas Machac