Tsitsipas Prevails in Style – Highlights from UTS Day 1 Night Session

See you tomorrow

Richard Gasquet and Stefanos Tstitspas are the two winners of the UTS Day 1 night session, respectively over David Goffin and Benoît Paire. The action continues tomorrow with an exciting schedule : 

Day Session

• Match 1 – 4:00 PM CET: Lucas Pouille “The French Flair” vs Elliot Benchetrit “The Underdog”
• Match 2 – 5.15 PM CET: Dustin Brown “The Artist” vs Benoit Paire “The Rebel”
• Match 3 – 6.30 PM CET: David Goffin “The Rebel” vs Matteo Berrettini “The Hammer”

Night Session

• Match 4 – 9:00 PM CET: Feliciano Lopez “The Torero” vs Alexei Popyrin “The Sniper”
• Match 5 – 10:15 PM CET: Stefanos Tsitsipas “The Greek God” vs Richard Gasquet “The Virtuoso”

Tsitsipas leads the ranking

Here is the ranking after the UTS day 1 (Win/Sets/Points Average):

1. TSITSIPAS 1 / 3-1 / +41
2. BERRETTINI 1 / 3-1 / +21
3. POPYRIN 1 / 3-1 / +9
4. LOPEZ  1 / 2-2 / 0
5. GASQUET 1 / 2-2 / -4
6. GOFFIN 0 / 2-2 / +4
7. POUILLE 0 / 2-2 / 0
8. BENCHETRIT 0 / 1-3 / -9
9. BROWN 0 / 1-3 / -21
10. PAIRE 0 / 1-3 / -41

Match 5 : Stefanos Tsitsipas “The Greek God” vs Benoît Paire “The Rebel”

Tsitsipas beats Paire: 24-4, 22-6, 13-14, 15-10

FOURTH QUARTER:

15-10: Some surrealistic scenes here from Benoit Paire. The Frenchman keeps on arguing with the empire. It does not bother Tsitsipas who goes on to win this match with some clean winners.

Divine powers ⚡️@StefTsitsipas hits 30+ winners to claim his first #UTShowdown win. pic.twitter.com/6JKP97xHTK

— UTS Tour (@uts_tour_) June 14, 2020

8-8 – Paire attracts Tsitsipas at the net with a drop shot, and then passes him with a stunning backhand passing shot.

6-6 – Tsitsipas is taking a point penalty for time infringement. He then manages to come back to deuce and smashes a ball to the Paire side.

3-2 TSITSIPAS – The Frenchman strikes two winners. This man is unpredictable.

3-0 TSITSIPAS – Paire makes three unforced errors in a row. he is very angry against him.

"The Rebel" @benoitpaire is clutch here! pic.twitter.com/BF2BRly1Le

— Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) June 14, 2020

THIRD QUARTER: PAIRE

14-13 PAIRE – Stunning point from Benoît Paire! Then he lets the times pass on and takes the quarter! What a turnaround!

11-11 – Stefanos Tsitsipas also uses his “Steal serve”UTS card efficiently.

9-9 – Down 7-9, Paire uses his “Steal serve”UTS card and comes back to deuce with two good serves.

6-6 – Paire somehow finds his rhythm and comes back to 6-6 with a backhand winner and an ace.

3-1 TSITSIPAS – Paire nicely comes to the net but misses his volley. He shouts and smashes a ball out of the court.

2-1 TSITSIPAS – Benoit Paire is using “Winner counts 3” UTS card and goes for the ace. But Tsitsipas produces an outstanding return winner. There is nothing to do against the “Greek God” Tsitsipas tonight.

• “I can’t make anything”, says Benoit Paire in an irritated way to the commentators interrogating him on his feeling over the match.

SECOND QUARTER: TSITSIPAS

22-6 TSITSIPAS – Tsitsipas wins the second quarter, another time with a big margin. There is only one player on the court.

19-4 TSITSIPAS – Tsitsipas is not disturbed and keeps building on his lead. The Greek is impressive. He plays with a lot of variety and consistency.

12-4 TSITSIPAS – Paire has lost his (short) momentum. After losing a point, Paire smashes a ball out of the court. On the next points, he throws his racquet.

6-4 TSITSIPAS – Paire loses 4 points in a row and his coach asks for a time out.

4-2 PAIRE: The Frenchman takes the lead with two good first serves

2-2: Benoit Paire is overrun by the Greek and screams angrily.

The Greek God @StefTsitsipas is showing no mercy ⚡️

He takes the first quarter 24-4.#UTShowdown pic.twitter.com/Rqrb9vE4zt

— UTS Tour (@uts_tour_) June 14, 2020

FIRST QUARTER: TSITSIPAS

24-4 TSITSIPAS: This first quarter was a carnage. The Frenchman has two minutes to resettle now.

18-4 TSITSIPAS – Stefanos “The Greek God” Tsitsipas is just too good in this first quarter.

13-3 TSITSIPAS – Twice, Paire is going for the trick shot. Twice, it proves inefficient.

11-3 TSITSIPAS – What a couple of backhand winners down the line from the Greek. He goes on with an ace.

7-2 TSITSIPAS – Magnificent drop shot from Benoit Paire. That might give confidence to the Frenchman.

5-1 TSITSIPAS – Stefanos Tsitsipas is making an impressive start.

Match 4: Richard Gasquet “The Virtuoso” vs David Goffin “The Wall”

Gasquet beats Goffin: 13-11, 11-13, 12-11, 10-15, 2-0

SUDDEN DEATH: 2-0 GASQUET

Gasquet smashes a superb cross-court passing shot after a good net approach from Goffin. On the match point, Gasquet defends and Goffin sends a forehand in the net. The Frenchman prevails!

UTS debut is a success for @richardgasquet1 after a thriller that ended in the sudden-death against @David__Goffin 😱 pic.twitter.com/X3Mne0bBEJ

— Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) June 14, 2020

QUARTER 4: GOFFIN

15-10 GOFFIN – We are going to the sudden death.

14-8 GOFFIN – The Belgian keeps his momentum. He forces Gasquet into some unforced errors.

9-7 GOFFIN – The Frenchman responds by playing his “Winners count 3” UTS cards. On the first point, the Belgian shows why he is nicknamed the wall, producing a brilliant counter-attack. But on the second, Gasquet manages to produce a backhand winner: he is back to 9-7.

Just like music to my ears 😏🎼

The Virtuoso @richardgasquet1 scores 3 points at once with an unbelievable backhand winner.#UTShowdown pic.twitter.com/SeGlGm8ket

— UTS Tour (@uts_tour_) June 14, 2020

8-4 GOFFIN – Leading 6-4, the Belgian wisely uses his “Steal serve” UTS card to consolidate his lead.

4-2 GOFFIN – Majestic drop shot from the Belgian. He is not a mere wall.

2-2 – Both players hold their serve.

QUARTER 3: GASQUET

12-11 GASQUET – Incredible. Goffin double faults on the deciding points. Gasquet now leads two quarters to one.

11-11 – Gasquet is back to deuce! The Frenchman is stronger in two long rallies.

11-8 GOFFIN – Goffin edges ahead, notably with a brilliant forehand winner. “Incredible”, says the Frenchman.

8-8 – Down 6-8, Goffin uses his “Winner counts 3” card. He serves and volleys twice but Gasquet makes two unforced errors going for winning passing shots.

6-4 GASQUET – Goffin serves 4 times in a row and takes advantage of it. He notably produced a superb forehand passing shot down the line. “Beautiful”, says Gasquet.

5-1 GASQUET – “The Virtuoso”‘s backhand is on fire!

2-0 GASQUET – A couple of brilliant backhands from Gasquet

Still in this… 💪#UTShowdown | @David__Goffin pic.twitter.com/SoJVhR39TE

— UTS Tour (@uts_tour_) June 14, 2020

QUARTER 2: GOFFIN

13-11 GOFFIN – Gasquet fights against the clock to try to come back. But at 12-11 his forehand goes wide of the left sideline. 

11-9 GOFFIN – Goffin does so. But he manages to hit an ace!! x3

8-8 – Gasqued uses his “Winners count 3”, looks for the ace but loses both points.

6-6 – During a time out, Goffin’s coach urges him to serve and volley more. But the Belgian does not follow this advice for the next two points.

5-5 – Down 3-5, Richard Gasquet uses he “Steal serve card”. A move which proved effective with two big first serves.

2-1 GOFFIN – Goffin has the lead but Richard Gasquet produces an absolute screamer with his forehand.

QUARTER 1: GASQUET

Did The Virtuoso find a hole in The Wall ⁉️@richardgasquet1 takes an early 1-0 lead. #UTShowdown pic.twitter.com/kkAhB6AMgj

— UTS Tour (@uts_tour_) June 14, 2020

13-11 GASQUET – Gasquet imposes the rhythm with his backhand takes the lead. He goes for his “Steal serve” card and secures the first quarter.

9-9 – What a backhand from Goffin! Down the line. 

7-7 – Down 3-7, Goffin uses his “Winners counts 3” and produce a magical serve and volley. What a clever play! He makes the same on the second point and is close to making it again but Gasquet manages to touch the ball and prevent the winner.

6-3 GASQUET – Clean backhand winner from Richard “The Virtuoso” Gasquet!

4-2 GASQUET – Strong start from the Frenchman.

Ultimate Tennis Showdown, today is (really) the day!

Welcome to Tennis Majors where you can follow Sunday’s night session Ultimate Tennis Showdown live. After Saturday’s matches had been postponed, it will be the inaugural day of this brand new competition.

Here are the matches on tap for this session:

• Match 4 – 9:00 PM CET: Richard Gasquet “The Virtuoso” vs David Goffin “The Wall”
• Match 5 – 10:15 PM CET: Stefanos Tsitsipas “The Greek God” vs Benoît Paire “The Rebel”

Tomorrow’s #UTShowdown order of play is out.

Crossing fingers for better weather 🤞 pic.twitter.com/scnyIg6oTd

— UTS | Ultimate Tennis Showdown (@UTShowdown) June 13, 2020

To experience UTS intensity and enjoy the show as if you were at the Mouratoglou Academy, you are at the right place!

• Read also: UTS 2020 in 10 Questions: Players, Broadcasts, Schedule…
• Read also: UTS: Quarters, UTS cards, coaching timeouts… Discover all the rules! 
• See also: UTS: “Tennis like never before”, it starts today!