'I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT ANYMORE': KAYLAH MCPHEE DIVERTS TO NEW PATH ON THE UTR TOUR

(Kaylah McPhee/Instagram)

Kaylah McPhee, once a mainstay on the ITF Tour with a career-high ranking of No.199 in singles and No.218 in doubles, has now switched course in her tennis career.

After nearly a decade of grinding through the demanding world of professional tennis, the 27-year-old Australian has shifted her focus to the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) events, a move that has brought her renewed success, financial stability, and—most importantly—happiness.

Far from hanging up her racquet, McPhee is redefining what success looks like for her, embracing a schedule and format that align with her current goals and lifestyle, as she nears the end of her tennis career.

A Breakthrough in Brazil

McPhee's journey to this point has been one of perseverance, which is not dissimilar to the hundreds of players around the world trying to make their way on the ITF Tour.

Early in her career, McPhee's trajectory was heading north quickly. In 2019, at age 21, all signs pointed towards a flourishing career. Qualifying wins at the Australian Open and Wimbledon had her in a better position, both financially and ranking-wise, than most other players at that age.

A win over Heather Watson (career high No.38) and close losses to players such as Marta Kostyuk (No.16) and Anna Blinkova (No.34) show just how close McPhee might've come to being one of Australia’s top-ranked women.

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However, her career began to fall apart in 2020, when injuries cruelly robbed her of valuable years on the tour. While she was able to recover, rehabilitate, and return, she was never able to break out of the ITF cycle again.

Fast forward to December 2024 in Joinville, Brazil, where McPhee tasted victory in a way she hadn't before. After finishing as runner-up in a $15,000 ITF event the previous week—a result she felt she should have won—McPhee was determined to go one better. Her tenacity paid off, as she clinched her first ITF singles title without dropping a set.

"That was amazing," McPhee recalled. "I said to Jarrod (her fiancé), I'm not stopping until I win one. It fired me up. It was literally the best. To come away from the tournament without losing a match. Even though it was only a 15K, I took the time to celebrate that."

The victory was a high point in a career marked by perseverance, injuries, and comebacks. However, the euphoria of that win was short-lived. The 2025 season brought a string of challenges, with McPhee losing seven consecutive matches on the ITF and WTA circuits without a single victory.

The toll of those losses, coupled with the financial and emotional strain of the ITF Tour, began to weigh heavily.

"Sick of losing, sick of losing money, sick of the intense schedule," McPhee said, reflecting on her mindset at the time. "When I lost in Launceston, it solidified in my mind that I didn't want to play anymore.

"It's disappointing to have to stop, but I got to the point where my ranking was bad. I'm 27, grinding the ITF's, and I just felt I didn't want to do it anymore."

A Career at a Crossroads

McPhee's struggles weren't limited to results on the court. A shoulder injury sidelined her for three months in 2024, forcing her to rely on coaching 20 hours a week to supplement her income.

"My shoulder had been sore for a few months. I fell on it, and although it was nothing serious, I had to rehab it," she explained. "I came back, but had a bunch of tough losses in a row. The ranking plummeted."

The Australian summer, typically a highlight for local players, brought further disappointment. For the first time in years, McPhee missed out on a qualifying wildcard for the Australian Open.

"That was a huge milestone for me to show that things weren't trending in the right direction," she admitted.

By March 2025, after one final ITF event in Thailand, McPhee was struggling to the point where she was in a "bad place mentally".

The relentless grind of the ITF Tour—constant travel, financial losses, and the pressure to maintain a ranking—had taken its toll. McPhee was at a crossroads, questioning whether the life of a professional tennis player was still worth it.

A New Opportunity: The UTR Tour

Just when McPhee needed it most, an opportunity arose that would change her trajectory. A friend working for UTR invited her to compete in UTR events in Mexico, with hospitality covered.

McPhee participated in two events, finishing fifth in both, sparking a newfound enthusiasm for the game.

"It's been a nice way to bridge the gap between playing pro and eventually stopping altogether," she said.

The UTR Tour, with its unique format and player-friendly structure, offered McPhee a refreshing alternative to the ITF circuit.

Unlike traditional tournaments, UTR events feature a round-robin format with four pools of five players, ensuring four matches from Monday to Friday, with a scheduled day off. Saturday hosts playoffs, including semi-finals and matches for lower positions, with the final played on Sunday.

"For the developing players, the extra match practice is perfect," she said.

With a hint of nostalgia, she added, "If this was around 10 years ago, I would've loved it. It's so much better than AMTs (Australian Money Tournaments) because of the guaranteed match practice. Particularly when you've travelled far and paid your $100 entry fee. Some of them also include hospitality and free meals."

Financially, UTR events are also more rewarding than many lower-tier ITF tournaments. With a minimum payout of US$400 even for the last-placed player, and a first prize of US$3,600, McPhee finds the tour far more financially rewarding for her and other girls.

"There are girls who are hopefully at least breaking even," McPhee noted.

Additionally, the UTR rating system doesn't penalise players for taking time off, unlike the ITF rankings, which require consistent participation to maintain. Perfect for players to build in time at home, or training blocks throughout the year.

A Strategic Shift

McPhee's transition to UTR events has been nothing short of triumphant. Since her last ITF event in Thailand, she has compiled an astonishing 50-2 record in UTR tournaments, including a remarkable streak of 42 consecutive wins without dropping a set, and winning six straight titles.

While some might argue she's not challenging herself at this level, McPhee is unapologetic about her priorities.

"I don’t want to be challenged," she said with a laugh. "I'm not a junior player who's wanting to get better. I want some financial reward, and I want to win. I'm so much happier and stress-free. I haven't had too many losses on this tour, so that could be why."

The UTR Tour's flexibility allows McPhee to take more control over her schedule, a stark contrast to the rigid demands of the ITF circuit.

"I will travel when it suits me," she stated. "If a UTR presents a good opportunity, such as hospitality, then I'll go, but I'm not actively seeking them out. I'm trying to play a mix of UTRs and AMTs to make money."

With approximately 12 UTR events in Australia—comparable to the number of ITF tournaments—McPhee sees the tour as a viable option for players looking to sustain a career without the financial strain of the ITF circuit.

"I think you'll find there'll be a lot of players realising the ITF Tour won't make them a lot of money," she said.

"I love tennis. I want to play UTRs because I can make a living out of it. I think a lot of people do see it as stepping down, but personally, I’ve been encouraging a lot of girls who are talking about playing ITFs to just play UTRs while you're developing as a player. You don't want to be losing money. You have a chance to make money, so play these."

Looking Ahead

McPhee's success on the UTR Tour has also positioned her well in the end-of-year points race, where she currently sits in second place. The race, which takes a player's best eight results, offers a US$10,000 bonus to the leader, or the player with the highest UTR who has won eight events.

For McPhee, this is an added incentive to keep competing, but her focus remains on enjoying the game on her terms.

When asked if she would consider returning to the ITF Tour, McPhee is resolute.

"For what? There's no way I'm getting back on tour and travelling the full year. Once you stop doing that, you're not going back to it. The level out there is just so good," she confessed.

Instead, McPhee is savouring the freedom and reduced stress of her current path. The constant cycle of entering tournaments, waiting for withdrawal deadlines, booking flights and accommodations, and finding doubles partners is a thing of the past.

"It just weighs on you when you have to do it every single week," she said. "Then there's the losses. If you lose, you're out of pocket up to a couple of thousand dollars."

Looking ahead, McPhee envisions playing for another two years at most.

"I’m 27, I'd like to have kids," she shared. "I’m probably the happiest I've been in a long time."

Her move to the UTR Tour has allowed her to rediscover her love for tennis while maintaining financial stability and personal fulfilment.

A Model for the Future?

McPhee's story gives hope to players who are rethinking the traditional path of professional tennis. The UTR Tour, with its emphasis on accessibility, guaranteed matches, and financial viability, offers an alternative for those who want to continue competing without the gruelling demands of the ITF or WTA circuits.

For developing players, it provides valuable match experience, while for relative veterans like McPhee, it's a way to extend their careers on their own terms.

"There's no benefit from losing in ITF qualifying all the time. You’re not getting anywhere, so you may as well get matches," she said.

She also points out the frustration of waiting around after early losses in traditional tournaments: "Hanging around for a week before your next match is no fun either. It's the worst! I have to wait six days to redeem myself."

As she continues to dominate the UTR Tour, it’s a reminder that success in tennis isn't solely defined by rankings or Grand Slam appearances, but by finding a path that balances passion, practicality, and personal well-being.

For Kaylah McPhee, the UTR Tour has been the perfect fit, offering a new chapter in a career that's far from over.

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