The Australian Open introduced its inaugural One Point Slam event in 2025, yet it only had a prize fund of A$60,000 (£29,400) and garnered minimal public attention.
Andrey Rublev of Russia was the sole player from the top 10 rankings to participate, and his involvement concluded when he served his single allotted ball into the net during his quarter-final match.
The tournament saw Australian professional Omar Jasika claim victory after 16 amateur players – comprising eight men and eight women aged between 15 and 72 – competed against 16 professionals.
This represents the most recent endeavor by tennis authorities to attract viewership to the sport, following the 2025 US Open’s incorporation of a dedicated mixed doubles championship before its main draw commenced.
That competition paired up duos such as Iga Swiatek with Casper Ruud, Jessica Pegula with Jack Draper, and Elena Rybakina with Taylor Fritz, although the title was secured by doubles specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.
In explaining the rationale behind the unusual One Point Slam, tournament director Craig Tiley remarked: “The commitment of top athletes like Iga Swiatek, Jannik Sinner, and Coco Gauff to play, alongside everyday Australians who qualified through state championships, perfectly illustrates the core purpose of this event: uniting individuals through tennis in an exciting and inclusive manner.”
This article constitutes the latest contribution from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything collective.
