Patrick Mouratoglou: I’m not trying to go against the ATP e WTA, but really with them

Frenchman Patrick Mouratoglou says that his Ultimate Tennis Showdown event is not meant to compete with the ATP & WTA Tours and that he hopes to bring in a newer and younger demographic to the sport.

The renowned French coach hosted the first edition of the UTS series in June at his academy in France where players such as Stefanos Tsitsipas, Richard Gasquet, Matteo Berrettini and David Goffin among others competed in the men's event. There was also a second event in July and August for the men and it also featured a women's edition which included the likes of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Alize Cornet.

Patrick Mouratoglou says UTS is targeting a newer younger audience

Speaking to Forbes, Mouratoglou says that the feedback on the tournament has been very positive from the players, and that his event is not meant to compete with the ATP & WTA Tours.

"I think that the ATP and the WTA are doing a good job because they’re satisfying their fans, and I am one of their fans. The fans of the ATP and WTA, the fanbase has been built in the (19)70s and the 80s, the average age is 61, and most of them are very conservative."

Mouratoglou adds that he hopes the UTS will being in a newer demographic of fans to the sport, which would be better for the entire tennis industry and that he would also be open to having the UTS under the ATP/ WTA umbrella. "I think there is a space for a second league, which is UTS, that is more modern, and is targeting a difference audience. Those two Tours can really live well next to each other because they’re really different. And I think if we manage to bring new fans to tennis it’s going to be good for the whole tennis industry. I’m not trying to go against the ATP and WTA, but really with them, and if they want it to be under their umbrella, it’s fine for me.”

Patrick Mouratoglou has worked with several players in recent years including Marcos Baghdatis, Pavlyuchenkova, Jérémy Chardy, Laura Robson, Yanina Wickmayer, Tsitsipas and Grigor Dimitrov. He is also the coach of 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, who he has been working with since 2012. While working with Mouratoglou, Serena has won 10 Grand Slam titles.  He founded the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in 1996 in France. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/32ltUFa