UTS Media Release, June 22, 2026
Brazilian superstar Joao Fonseca will make his UTS debut in front of his adoring home fans at the 11,000-seater Maracanazinho stadium next month as part of a stellar UTS Rio presented by XP line-up.
“I am super excited to confirm that I will compete in UTS Rio in July,” said Fonseca, who has been given the UTS nickname The Rocket thanks to his exhilarating shotmaking.
“I can’t wait to play in front of my home crowd, especially in the iconic Maracanazinho arena that is loved by the Cariocans! I saw incredible pictures of the last UTS in France, the atmosphere looked fantastic and I’m sure Brazilians will love this UTS format as well.”
UTS Rio will take place July 16, 17 and 18 and is set to feature eight superstars of men’s tennis competing for a huge prize-money purse of $1,237,000USD, with the winner taking home $400,000 after three days of fast-paced, thrilling tennis played in UTS’s innovative, fan-friendly format.
Fonseca will join in-form Argentinean Francisco Cerundolo, champion of last week’s prestigious HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club, and Australian maestro Nick Kyrgios. Former World No.13 Ugo Humbert and British star and former Wimbledon semi-finalist Cameron Norrie (who has previously won an ATP Tour title in Rio) are also in the strong field, with three more players to be announced in the coming days.
Fonseca is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young players in men’s tennis and attracts huge, noisy crowds wherever he plays. He is already a household name in his sports-mad homeland and wherever he plays fans flock to see his matches, clad in Brazil football shirts and waving national flags.
The UTS Tour, founded in 2020 by globally respected tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou, has grown into a highly successful elite global tennis league featuring a succession of the world’s best male players at events in some of the world’s most exciting cities. April’s sell-out UTS Nîmes event was held in an iconic 2000-year-old Roman amphitheater and was a huge success.
Since its inception UTS has brought its unique tennis format to events in London, Los Angeles, New York, Guadalajara, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Oslo, Nîmes and now Rio, a city with a rich sporting pedigree having hosted the 2016 Olympic Games and the 2014 Fifa World Cup.
The UTS format is designed to deliver fan-friendly tennis at a fast pace and with maximum excitement, entertainment and crowd interaction. Players compete over eight-minute quarters, which can be decided by sudden death points, and only get one serve.
They can also use bonus cards to up the stakes. UTS Tour events offer generous prize-money to ensure that every point counts and a DJ, MC and lightshow add to the atmosphere. Fans even get to hear from players during the matches so that they always feel part of all the action.
UTS RULES
> 4 quarters of 8 minutes each
> Less time (15 seconds) between points
> No second serve
> Unlimited coaching from the sidelines
> Player interviews during the match
> Strategic use of bonus cards by players
> an iconic lightning bolt trophy….and more
