Nick Kyrgios and Cameron Norrie to play new UTS event in Brazil

Nick Kyrgios has not played an ATP Tour match since the 2026 Australian Open.

The Australian, who once reached a Wimbledon final, featured in both men’s and mixed doubles at Melbourne Park but was knocked out in the opening round of each.

His most recent singles appearance came just before the Australian Open, where he was beaten by Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round of the Brisbane International.

Kyrgios has been battling various injuries since 2022 and is targeting a return to singles play later this year, with entries planned for Mallorca and Stuttgart.

Now, he’s set to appear in another high-profile event later this year.

Nick Kyrgios and Cameron Norrie to feature in UTS Rio de Janeiro event

The UTS Tour, founded by Patrick Mouratoglou, has revealed the first four names for its upcoming event in South America.

Nick Kyrgios, Cameron Norrie, Francisco Cerúndolo and Ugo Humbert have all been confirmed for the tournament in Rio de Janeiro, taking place from 16-18 July.

The matches will be held at the Maracanazinho, an arena that seats up to 11,000 fans.

“Meet the first four players confirmed for the historic UTS debut in South America: Nick Kyrgios, Francisco Cerúndolo, Cameron Norrie and Ugo Humbert,” a spokesperson for UTS said in a post on X.

“These four star players are heading to Rio de Janeiro with one mission: to set Maracanãzinho on fire with tennis like never before!”

The remaining four spots in the lineup will be announced by organisers soon.

Felix Auger-Aliassime claims title in first UTS Tour appearance

Felix Auger-Aliassime made an immediate impact on the UTS Tour, securing the ‘Zeus Trophy’ in his debut appearance.

The Canadian overcame defending champion Casper Ruud in a tight match, winning 10-11, 14-10, 14-15, 15-11, 2-0.

Afterwards, he said: “I’ve grown used to high-pressure situations throughout my career, whether I’m playing for a tournament final or representing my country.”

Auger-Aliassime picked up $301,000 in prize money for his efforts.

How does the UTS Tour format work?

The UTS Tour stands out for its unique court setup, where matches are played without tramlines and the net is shortened to fit the narrower layout.

Each match is split into four eight-minute quarters, with a three-minute break between each one.

A player needs to take three of the four quarters to win. If it’s tied at 2-2, there’s a fifth quarter played in sudden death, where winning two straight points decides the match.

The format also removes traditional elements like pre-match warm-ups and lets on serve. Players get just one serve per point and alternate serving two points each throughout the match.

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