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.

Schedule/Results Ultimate Tennis Showdown Grand FinalFriday 5 December

Date/Time Round Player 1 Player 2 Result 05/12 17:00 Exhibition All Star Game v All Players — 05/12 18:00 Singles The Commander – Ugo Humbert v The Wall – David Goffin 3-1 (21-12, 18-17, 16-15, 10-5) 05/12 19:00 Singles Rublo (4) – Andrey Rublev v The Air Machete – Tomas Machac 3-0 (14-13, 17-10, 18-15) 05/12 20:00 Singles The Demon (1) – Alex de Minaur v Manna – Adrian Mannarino 3-1 (13-12, 16-8, 11-12, 14-12) 05/12 21:00 Singles The Ice Man (2) – Casper Ruud v El Canon – Francisco Cerúndolo 2-3 (11-12, 14-13, 15-11, 13-14, 2-4)

Saturday December 5 (Afternoon Session)

Date/Time Round Player 1 Player 2 Result 06/12 13:00 Singles The Air Machete – Tomas Machac v Manna – Adrian Mannarino 3-2 (16-11, 14-11, 13-17, 11-13, 2-0) 06/12 14:00 Singles The Ice Man (2) – Casper Ruud v The Wall – David Goffin 3-0 (14-9, 16-7, 17-9) 06/12 15:00 Singles The Commander – Ugo Humbert v El Canon – Francisco Cerúndolo 3-1 (16-10, 14-12, 11-18, 16-9) 06/12 16:00 Singles The Demon (1) – Alex de Minaur v Rublo (4) – Andrey Rublev 3-1 (13-12, 8-18, 16-12, 13-12)

Saturday Evening Session

Date/Time Round Player 1 Player 2 Result 06/12 18:15 Singles El Canon – Francisco Cerúndolo v The Wall – David Goffin 3-0 (19-8, 15-12, 18-7) 06/12 19:15 Singles Rublo (4) – Andrey Rublev v Manna – Adrian Mannarino 3-2 (12-17, 11-13, 18-11, 18-12, 2-0) 06/12 20:15 Singles The Ice Man – Casper Ruud v The Commander – Ugo Humbert 3-2 (13-12, 8-16, 8-15, 14-12, 2-0) 06/12 21:15 Singles The Demon (1) – Alex de Minaur v The Air Machete – Tomas Machac 3-1 (10-15, 16-11, 16-13, 16-12)

Semi-Finals

Date/Time Round Player 1 Player 2 Result 07/12 15:30 Singles The Commander – Ugo Humbert v The Demon (1) – Alex de Minaur 0-3 (13-15, 13-18, 9-18) 07/12 16:30 Singles Rublo (4) – Andrey Rublev v The Ice Man – Casper Ruud

Predictions

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.

Favourites

*** Alex de Minaur

** Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud

* Ugo Humbert, Adrian Mannarino, Tomas Machac

Field/Groups UTS Grand FinalGroup A

Nickname Player The Demon Alex de Minaur Rublo Andrey Rublev The Air Machete Tomas Machac Manna Adrian Mannarino

Group B

Nickname Player The Ice Man Casper Ruud El Canon Francisco Cerundolo The Wall David Goffin The Commander Ugo Humbert

Format UTS Grand Final

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.

Friday 5th Starting at 5pm Until 10pm All Star Game and 4 matches (all players on court) and Round Robin #1 Saturday 6th – Afternoon session Starting at 1pm Until 5pm 4 matches (all player on court) and Round Robin #2 Saturday 6th – Saturday evening Session Starting at 6:15 pm Until 10pm 4 matches (all players on court) and Robin Robin #3 – deciding matches for qualification Sunday 7th – Final 4 Session Starting at 2:30pm Until 6pm 3 matches (2 semi finals and final)