University Tennis League Players Share Their Experiences Ahead of the 2026 Season 

With the 2026 University Tennis League (UTL) season getting underway this month, student-athletes across Australia are preparing to represent their universities in a national competition that brings together competitive tennis and university sport. 

The UTL provides students with the opportunity to continue competing while studying, testing themselves against other universities in a format that emphasises match play, team connection, and the chance to build meaningful competitive experience. 

Along the way, players can also establish and develop their Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), an internationally recognised rating system that tracks player performance through competitive match play, allowing them to build their match history and measure progress. 

While every player’s pathway into the league is different, the UTL provides opportunities for students from a range of tennis backgrounds to continue competing whilst at university in a unique team-based format. 

Deakin University: Turning an individual sport into a team competition 

For Deakin University student-athletes, the UTL has offered a different way to experience competitive tennis, combining the individual nature of the sport with the support of a university team. 

After being introduced to the competition by members of Deakin’s UniSport Nationals team, Jaimin Mandi (Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science) joined the UTL in 2025 and was immediately drawn to the league’s team format. 

“What makes the UTL different for me is the team atmosphere and getting to play alongside my friends. The format is a competitive and enjoyable way to play,” Jaimin said. 

For Marcus Nield (Bachelor of Commerce), the highlight has been the opportunity to compete in high-quality matches while representing Deakin. 

“My favourite part of representing Deakin in the UTL was the finals in Brisbane last year. It was really an enjoyable experience, and it was nice to have the reward after playing multiple matches in the Melbourne competition,” he said. 

Having also competed at UniSport Nationals, Marcus noted that the UTL provides a different competitive experience.  

“I enjoy the fact that there is a finals, and you have to earn your spot to be there.” 

Now entering her third UTL season, Rebecca Lee (Bachelor of Science) values the opportunity to compete against universities from across Australia while representing Deakin. 

“It’s a really cool opportunity allowing you to play interstate and against students from all around Australia, which you don’t always get when you’re just playing locally,” she said. 

Rebecca added that being part of a university team has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience. 

“I mostly enjoy being able to represent my university, having a team to play for and having them support us, and also just getting to meet all the other players and making friends within your own team.” 

The University of Western Australia: Different pathways, one competition 

For student-athletes at The University of Western Australia (UWA), the UTL has provided an opportunity to continue competing throughout university, with players entering the league from a range of different tennis backgrounds. 

Having played tennis for the past ten years, Alfonso Calderon (Bachelor of Science) was introduced to the UTL through UWA Tennis Club coach Simon Harper and was excited by the opportunity to play against other teams, get to know his teammates and travel around Australia. 

“I think the UTL is very unique because you are always with your teammates and people around you that are supporting you and making it more fun,” he said. 

“I really enjoy that aspect of meeting other teams and new people, and always being in a group, because tennis is very individual and it’s not always easy in that aspect.” 

For UWA Div 1 Tennis Captain Archie Brown (Bachelor of Engineering / Bachelor of Commerce) who was also introduced to the UTL by Simon Harper, he was excited by the opportunity to compete against universities beyond Western Australia. 

“I really wanted to do it because there’s not that many tennis opportunities in WA, so it has been really good to expose myself to the rest of Australia,” he explained. 

A highlight of the UTL for Archie has been competing alongside teammates he has known for a long time, as well as playing against universities from across Australia, with a high-level doubles match against The University of Sydney standing out as a favourite memory.

For first-year UWA student Riana Tan (Bachelor of Biomedicine Specialised), competing in the UTL this year has offered her an opportunity to continue playing competitive tennis while also focusing on her university studies. 

“The UTL is different from other tennis opportunities I have been involved in because the league lets you focus on your studies while signifying the importance of having fun in tennis, so it’s not stressful about where you rank,” Riana said. 

Her teammate Tara Aleksic (Bachelor of Commerce), who is also in her first year at UWA, joined the UTL this year as an opportunity to continue playing the sport she loves while beginning university. 

“I wanted to get back into tennis and start playing again in my adult life. I want to still be involved in the sport that I love, in this new chapter of my life.” 

From experienced competitors to students returning to the sport, the stories of Deakin University and UWA student-athletes show there is no single pathway into the UTL.  

What they share is the desire to continue competing throughout university in a national league that celebrates team connection, competitive match play and the opportunity to represent their university, proving there is a place in the UTL for students from a wide range of tennis backgrounds.