Monfils, present in Nîmes: "UTS forces me to maintain a certain rigor"
This weekend, as part of his preparation for the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000, eight players will gather in the south of France, specifically in Nîmes, to compete in the second leg of the 2025 UTS Tour. Following Guadalajara, the action moves to the Arènes for this alternative format to the ATP Tour, which features different rules compared to official tournaments.
Guest on *L’Équipe de Choc* this Thursday, April 3, Gaël Monfils—who will take part in the event held in Gard—shared his thoughts on the UTS format, which he particularly enjoys.
"It’s a fantastic experience. It’s a show, with music and constant noise that helps you focus. It might not seem like it, but it’s a fast-paced format with very little downtime.
That’s what makes this format unique. Physically, it demands a different kind of concentration—you have to play every point as if it’s a tie-break. You can’t afford to give away two or three points.
There are plenty of highlights, the net is different, you can go around it. You’re fully engaged, but you can also be more creative, which attracts a younger audience to tennis.
When you come to watch a UTS match, you know exactly how long you’ll be there, who you’re coming to see, and matches last a maximum of one hour. It draws in new fans.
UTS helps me with playing every single point. I’ve said it for a long time, but I’m not a player who naturally plays every point. I like deciding when to push harder, when to be more defensive or offensive. UTS forces me to maintain a certain rigor because if you don’t play every point, it becomes much harder," he elaborated on *La Chaîne L’Équipe*.
