In this episode of SIP & CHARGE, Noël reports live from the Wintennis Center in Winterthur during the highly anticipated Zurich derby. Our guest is Jan Solcani, the founder of the University Tennis League (UTL), a professional tennis coach who has worked in nine different countries and developed top-100 players like Marton Fucsovics and Zhang Zhizhen.

Jan explains why he decided to bring the spirit of American college tennis to Switzerland and how he "reinvented" the format to make it faster, more intense, and more attractive for both players and spectators. We discuss the unique rules of the UTL—including co-ed teams, substitutions, and specialized scoring—that distinguish it from traditional formats.

Key topics in this conversation:

• The UTL Philosophy: Why the "Dual Career" path is crucial for players between 14 and 20 years old.
• Innovation in Tennis: From "supersets" to team substitutions—how the UTL makes tennis a dynamic team sport.
• Building a Community: The importance of team spirit and why Jan believes that helping others succeed is "contagious".
• A Win-Win for the Sport: How the UTL provides a sustainable pathway for top juniors and returning US-college players to stay active in the Swiss tennis scene.
• The Business Side: A look at the non-profit model, the role of donations, and how the league supports its teams.

Jan also reflects on the quality of the league, which already features former Davis Cup players and top national talent, and shares his hope for future collaborations within the Swiss sports landscape to further strengthen the sport we all love.

Connect with us:

• Website: tennisschweiz.ch
• UTL Info: university-tennis.com
• Watch the UTL: Check out the Kitris livestream and follow the matches in Winterthur and Bern.

Sip your drink, charge your game – enjoy the episode!

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