Monte-Carlo Uncertainty: Taylor Fritz Withdraws from UTS Nîmes with Injury Concerns
Taylor Fritz has officially withdrawn from the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) in Nîmes due to injury concerns. The American was scheduled to participate in the exhibition event starting Friday, April 4, but a lingering abdominal injury has forced him to extend his rest period ahead of the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Fritz, currently ranked No. 4 in the world, had a strong showing at the Miami Open, making it to the semifinals after defeating notable opponents like Denis Shapovalov and Matteo Berrettini. However, his run ended in a gripping three-set loss to Jakub Mensik, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-7(4), marking his sixth Masters 1000 semifinal appearance.
While the men’s clay swing is underway, the ATP has seen a somewhat unusual start, with three ATP 250 events—Houston, Marrakech, and Bucharest—taking place, but only two top-30 players (Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul) competing this week.
Several top players will still be part of the action, albeit in an exhibition setting. The UTS Nîmes event, originally featuring four top-10 players and seven in the top-20, will now include stars like Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev, Ben Shelton, Alex de Minaur, and Holger Rune, along with French players Gaël Monfils and Ugo Humbert.
With Fritz’s withdrawal, Tomáš Macháč has been added as a replacement. The exhibition event, set to take place on the clay courts of the Arènes de Nîmes in France from April 4-5, serves as a crucial warm-up for players ahead of the Monte-Carlo Masters.
