UTS Tour returns to Nîmes and its iconic “Arènes” in 2026
A new Bastide UTS Nîmes will kick off the 2026 clay-court season on April 3 and 4, at Les Arènes.
Les Arènes de Nîmes | © Tennis Majors / UTS
Organizers of the UTS Tour have confirmed that a new Bastide UTS Nîmes will kick off the 2026 clay-court season on April 3 and 4, 2026, just seven weeks before Roland-Garros, one year after the inaugural edition.
The announcement was made on Monday at the Nîmes City Hall by Patrick Mouratoglou and the tournament partners, including Vincent Bastide of Bastide Médical and local authorities.
The line-up is headlined by defending champion and two-time Roland-Garros finalist, Casper Ruud. The Norwegian, nicknamed ‘The Iceman‘ on the circuit, will be back to defend the title he claimed in the historic Roman amphitheatre, a venue capable of hosting up to 13,000 fans.
Joining him are two other marquee names well-versed in the UTS format:
- Ugo Humbert (‘The Commander’): France’s No. 1 and a 2024 UTS Frankfurt finalist returns to a location where he received passionate home support during a memorable match against Gaël Monfils in the 2025 edition.
- Alexander Bublik (‘The Bublik Enemy’): The current World No. 16 and 2024 UTS New York finalist will be gunning for his first UTS trophy following an excellent 2025 season that saw him capture four ATP titles, including two on clay.
Five additional players will be announced in the coming months as they compete for a massive $1,000,000 USD total prize purse.
Following its successful first run, the tournament will maintain its thrilling two-day knockout format, beginning with four quarter-finals on Friday, April 3, and concluding with the semi-finals, classification matches, and the final on Saturday, April 4.
Patrick Mouratoglou, founder of UTS, expressed his anticipation for the return: “We would all sign with both hands to relive the same event as in 2025, as it was so exceptional. We are very hopeful that the spectacle and the public experience will be even better… the simple idea of returning to this magic place to feel the same vibrations is an extraordinary reward.”
The UTS, with its short quarters, bonus cards, single-service balls, and in-match interviews, is poised to once again deliver a faster, more intense, and emotionally raw version of tennis in one of the world’s most breathtaking sporting venues.
