Previews: World TeamTennis must learn; UTS' fun finale; UTR in Spain

This summer’s tennis has come with its share of controversy, but so far, it’s showing no signs of slowing down. This weekend will see the culmination of one event, Patrick Mouratoglou’s Ultimate Tennis Showdown, and the start of two new ones: World TeamTennis, and the Spanish edition of the UTR series that began in Florida last month.

Who’s playing, what are the formats, where can you watch—and, most important, can these events be held safely? Here are some quick answers to all of those questions.

*Location: The Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

Dates: July 12–August 2*

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Players Include: Sofia Kenin, Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens, Danielle Collins, Taylor Fritz, Kim Clijsters, Jennifer Brady, Sam Querrey, Bob and Mike Bryan.
Networks: Tennis Channel, ESPN, CBS, CBS Sports Net

Two months ago, when WTT announced that it would hold its entire season at West Virginia’s venerable Greenbrier resort, it seemed like the perfect solution to the coronavirus crisis, as well as a golden opportunity. At the time, there were few cases in the state, and with the tours suspended, WTT could count on having a large part of the summer tennis season to itself. Since then, things have changed: West Virginia, like much of the U.S., has experienced a spike in cases; and the two tennis events that have been held with fans, the Adria Tour and the Draft Kings All-American Team Cup, have been marred by positive tests among players.

Like those two events, WTT is also planning to sell a limited number of tickets, which means there will be a lot of pressure on organizers to run a virus-free event. At this point, we can only hope that they’ve learned enough from this summer to pull it off, and to keep The Greenbrier bubble intact for three weeks. As of now, masks are required for fans when they are not in their seats, and players will undergo multiple COVID tests including: before they travel to the site, upon arrival to The Greenbrier and once more after a week has passed.

If there are no positive tests, this will be a chance for WTT to shine. While the rosters will be American-heavy by necessity, they’ll feature well-known players, and the team matches—three per day—will be broadcast across four networks.

Scratch: Frances Tiafoe was scheduled to play WTT, before he tested positive in Georgia last week and went into quarantine.

*Location: Nice, France

Dates: July 11-12*

Ultimate Tennis Showdown

Players: Stefanos Tsitsipas, Richard Gasquet, Matteo Berrettini, David Goffin
Networks: Tennis Channel; watch.utslive.tv

In terms of health and safety, UTS looks like one of the most responsible events of the summer. Patrick Mouratolgou’s brainchild has been played without fans, and with support staff (mostly) wearing masks. So far the precautions have paid off with no positive tests.

Beyond that, I’d say this new and radical format has been a qualified success. The abbreviated matches can go by with dizzying speed; there’s little time to bask in the glow of a beautiful shot, or even to keep track of the score. Yet the timed quarters, and the rapid-fire competition, can be compelling. It really is an entirely different way of playing tennis, and it will take some—OK, a lot—of getting used to before we can render a final verdict.

Speaking of finals, UTS has reached its championship round. The four survivors are Stefanos Tsitsipas, Richard Gasquet, Matteo Berrettini and David Goffin. After Gasquet plays Benoit Paire in a remaining round-robin match on Saturday, the final four will face off on Sunday in two semifinals and a final.

*Location: Spain (Barcelona, Valencia, Avilés)

Dates: July 10–12, 17–19, 24–26*

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Players Include: Roberto Bautista Agut, Pablo Carreño Busta, Albert Ramos-Viñolas, Fernando Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez
Network: Tennis Channel

UTR has held pro events in Florida and Australia, among other places, this summer. Starting Friday, it will partner with the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation to bring a men’s team competition to Spain. Over the next three weekends, in front of socially-distanced fans in Barcelona, Valencia and Avilés, most of the country’s top male players will compete in an event based on Laver Cup rules.

As for COVID restrictions, Spanish federation president Miguel Diaz Román says, “We are taking all the necessary measures to ensure players and fans [are in] a safe environment.”

One player who won’t be in that environment is Spanish No. 1 Rafael Nadal. So far Rafa is scheduled to return to the court at the ATP event in Madrid in September.

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