The 1 Point Slam feels like a penalty shoot-out on a tennis court. From the moment I first typed “1 Point Slam” into my notes, I was fascinated by this slam points tennis experiment.
It debuted during the Australian Open’s Opening Week in 2025, and it’s neither a Grand Slam nor a ranking event — it’s a single-point knockout that hands amateurs the chance to face pros. In this sudden-death format, each contest lasts exactly one point, and whoever wins that point advances.
The inaugural 1 Point Slam Prize was AU$60,000, and the idea was to give club players the opportunity to share a court with stars. Now the event is back for 2026 with a ten-fold increase; the winner pockets AU$1 million.
As I learned while following the event closely, this mix of amateurs and pros compresses slam points tennis into the most dramatic micro-battle imaginable.
Format & Origins: How The 1 Point Slam Bends Slam Points Tennis
Tennis Australia created the 1 Point Slam in 2025 as a way to involve grassroots players in the Australian Open’s Opening Week. Unlike the traditional Win a Wildcard mixed-doubles event, the One Point Slam is not part of the main draw.
Instead, it is a knockout singles competition where each match consists of just one point: amateurs get two serves, whereas professionals only have one. A coin toss determines who serves, and the chair umpire’s decision on the winner is final — there are no appeals.
This rule tweaks levels the playing field, giving the underdogs a chance. During the 2025 debut, Tennis Australia invited 16 amateur players aged 15–72 and matched them against 16 pros.
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Names like world No. 17 Hubert Hurkacz and No. 9 Andrey Rublev lined up alongside home hopes Andrew Bolt, Olivia Gadecki and Priscilla Hon. The draw followed a 32-player elimination bracket where winners advanced until one champion remained.
In perhaps the best symbol of slam points tennis drama, 56-year-old amateur Paul Fitzgerald reached the semi-finals after blasting three aces. In the final, Jasika — 2014 US Open boys’ champion and then ranked No. 179 — edged Hon to claim the AU$60,000 1 Point Slam Prize.
After winning, he admitted he was “super stoked” and joked that the last lob missed by centimetres.
Key Features Of The 2025 1 Point Slam
- Eligibility and acceptance: Players needed a Competitive Player Profile, a Universal Tennis Rating of 4.0 or better and had to be at least 14 years old. Amateurs were responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs.
- Serving rules: Amateurs enjoyed two serves per point while pros were restricted to one, adding unpredictability.
- Draw format: 32-player single-elimination bracket with 16 amateurs paired against 16 pros.
- Scheduling: All matches were completed on a single day — Thursday 9 January.
- 1 Point Slam Prize: The inaugural One Point Slam Prize of AU$60,000 dwarfed many challengers’ yearly earnings.
The idea succeeded because it distilled slam points tennis into a single rally. Every shot carried the weight of an entire match, and the atmosphere in Kia Arena oscillated between laughter and tension.
Watching from the stands, I felt like I was witnessing a gladiatorial duel compressed into a heartbeat.
Evolution: From $60k To A Million And The Future Of Slam Points Tennis
The success of the first 1 Point Slam convinced organisers to double down. For 2026, the event has been rebranded the Million Dollar One Point Slam, and the 1 Point Slam Prize skyrockets to AU$1 million.
Qualification now occurs at clubs across Australia and during the Open’s Opening Week. Instead of 16 amateurs, 10 community players will join a field of 22 pros, with the final again staged on Rod Laver Arena.
Tournament director Craig Tiley said fans now have “a million reasons to pick up a racquet.” One twist keeps the slam points tennis feel fresh: rather than a coin toss, competitors play rock, paper, scissors to decide who serves.
Moreover, the winner of the single point advances to the next round. Similarly, Carlos Alcaraz, the best player in the world, is set to be the main pro.
In addition, he will join 21 other pros, making it an extraordinary opportunity for local club players to test themselves against the best. The new 1 Point Slam Prize also aligns with the Australian Open’s push to transform Opening Week into a festival of sport and music.
With 21 days of concerts and the entire precinct open from day one, the One Point Slam sits alongside events like Pickleball Slam and the AO Live music series. The organisers haven’t forgotten fairness. Amateur entrants still need a Universal Tennis Rating and must sign up through Tennis Australia’s Competitive Play system. The game’s basics, calling the score aloud, shaking hands, and following the Code of Behaviour, remain vital. And while the prize is a fun showcase, it could influence how the sport packages slam points tennis for TV. Imagine major tournaments experimenting with tiebreaks or mini-points during rain delays.
ECCO ‘MILLION DOLLAR 1 POINT SLAM’, DILETTANTI CONTRO PRO: UN PUNTO PER VINCERE UN MILIONE #tennis #milione #dollari #pro #dilettanti #alcaraz #ausopen https://t.co/kGmMfaXgDv
— SportMediaset (@sportmediaset) October 7, 2025
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FAQs
- Who won the 1 Point Slam in 2025 and how much was the 1 Point Slam Prize amount?
Omar Jasika defeated Priscilla Hon in the 2025 final and took home the AU$60,000 1 Point Slam Prize. The inaugural event pitted 16 amateurs against 16 pros, with amateurs getting two serves. - How does the 1 Point Slam work?
Each match consists of a single point — there are no games or sets. A coin toss (2025) or rock–paper–scissors (2026) decides who serves. Amateurs receive two serves while pros have one. slam points tennis is like sudden death as the victor of that point moves forward. - What is the new 1 Point Slam Prize in 2026?
The prize has been raised to AU 1 million. Craig Tiley wrote that there will be 22 pros against 10 amateurs and world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz will be the star.
