The innovative contest, dubbed the “Million Dollar One Point Slam,” will take place at Melbourne Park ahead of January’s Grand Slam. The event will feature 10 amateur players and 22 professionals in a dramatic, winner-takes-all elimination format — where each match is decided by just one point.
Before each showdown, players will settle who serves first with a round of rock, paper, scissors. Whoever wins the point progresses to the next round, while the loser is immediately eliminated. The final champion will walk away with A$1 million (£490,000) — a prize on par with what 2025 Australian Open semi-finalists earned from the main draw.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said the competition was designed to bridge the gap between grassroots tennis and the professional stage while adding an element of unpredictability and entertainment.
“Whether you’re an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will walk away with the prize,” Tiley said. “Entries will open soon at clubs across the country. More big names will be announced soon, and we’ll also have celebrities involved.”
The ‘One Point Slam’ debuted earlier this year with a smaller A$60,000 prize fund and limited fanfare. Russian star Andrey Rublev was the only top-10 player to compete but was eliminated in the quarter-final after missing his sole serve. The inaugural winner, Australian pro Omar Jasika, triumphed over a field of 16 amateurs and 16 professionals, with participants ranging in age from 15 to 72.
This year’s edition will be significantly expanded, with organisers promising a prime-time spectacle at Rod Laver Arena, the tournament’s main court. Unlike last year’s daytime matches, the final stages will now be held under the lights in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January.
The format is expected to remain largely the same, with professionals given one serve and amateurs two, as in standard tennis rules. The event will consist of five knockout rounds, culminating in the million-dollar finale.
Any Australian — or international player registered with Tennis Australia — can enter local One Point Slam tournaments for a chance to qualify. Winners from each state and territory will secure their place among the ten amateurs selected for the main event.
Additionally, a December qualifying draw will allow lower-ranked professionals, celebrities, and sports stars to compete for two remaining slots in the grand finale.
The new format follows the example of the US Open, which successfully introduced a $1 million mixed doubles competition in 2024 to encourage more participation from top singles players.
With global stars, local talent, and celebrities set to share the court — and a life-changing prize on the line — the Million Dollar One Point Slam promises to be one of the most unpredictable and entertaining pre-tournament events in tennis history.