MELBOURNE — In a sport steeped in tradition, a radical new event is set to shake up the tennis world. The Million Dollar One Point Slam, scheduled for February 19th, 2025, at Melbourne Park, promises a spectacle of high-stakes, high-speed action where entire matches are decided by a single, decisive point. BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team breaks down everything you need to know about this groundbreaking tournament.
What Exactly Is the Million Dollar One Point Slam?
The concept is as simple as it is audacious. The tournament features a 16-player field, split evenly between eight men and eight women, competing in a knockout format. The twist? Each match is a single point. No games, no sets, no second serves. One serve, one return, one volley, one winner-takes-all exchange. Win the point, you advance. Lose, and you're out. The entire event will be condensed into a single, electrifying evening of competition, with the last player standing—one man and one woman—each walking away with a staggering US $1,000,000 prize.
The brainchild of event promoter Tennium, the One Point Slam is designed to be a pure, unadulterated test of nerve and skill under maximum pressure. As tournament director David Massey explained, "This is tennis in its most concentrated form. It strips away everything but the moment of truth that every player faces on break point or match point. It's about who can handle the ultimate pressure."
Who Will Be Competing in Melbourne?
The inaugural field is a captivating mix of Grand Slam champions, rising stars, and charismatic personalities, all drawn by the unique challenge and monumental prize. The confirmed player list showcases a global roster of talent ready to embrace the format's chaos. The men's field is headlined by the explosive Nick Kyrgios of Australia, a player built for such high-wire acts, and the versatile French showman Gaël Monfils. They are joined by a powerful group including Americans Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul, Italy's Lorenzo Musetti, and the big-serving Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime.
On the women's side, the draw is equally formidable. Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka brings her formidable big-match mentality, while the crafty Spaniard Paula Badosa and the powerful Czech Karolína Plíšková add serious firepower. The field is rounded out by exciting talents like China's Qinwen Zheng, Italy's Martina Trevisan, and the USA's Alycia Parks. The presence of such established and rising stars validates the event's premise and guarantees a fiercely competitive night.
Format and Rules: How Will It All Work?
The tournament will follow a straightforward single-elimination bracket. Players will be seeded based on their ATP or WTA rankings, setting the stage for potential blockbuster matchups from the first point. The rules are tailored for speed and clarity:
- The Serve: Each player gets one serve only. A fault results in the loss of the point.
- The Receiver's Choice: The receiver chooses which side (deuce or ad court) they wish to receive.
- The Point: Play continues until one player wins the rally outright or forces an error.
- No Lets: If a serve clips the net and lands in, play continues.
This format eliminates any room for error or gradual momentum shifts. It places a premium on tactical bravery, whether that's going for a huge serve, a blistering return, or a deft drop shot from the first strike. As former world number one Jim Courier noted in commentary, "This isn't about endurance or strategy over two hours. This is about who can summon their very best for ten seconds of insane pressure."
Why Host This Event, and Why Now?
The Million Dollar One Point Slam arrives at a time when sports entertainment is rapidly evolving. Organizers aim to capture a new, younger audience with a fast-paced, easily digestible product perfect for digital and social media highlights. Its placement in the calendar, shortly after the Australian Open, capitalizes on the tennis buzz in Melbourne and offers players a lucrative, low-commitment opportunity. The event also serves as a compelling experiment, testing whether the essence of tennis competition can be distilled into its most dramatic moment.
Reactions from the tennis community have been mixed but intrigued. Purists question whether it diminishes the sport's traditional tests of stamina and mental fortitude over longer matches. However, many players and fans see it as an exciting addition to the calendar. Nick Kyrgios, never one to shy away from spectacle, stated, "It's going to be insane. A million bucks on one point? That's pressure you can't simulate anywhere else. I can't wait."
What to Expect on the Night
Viewers can anticipate a night of unparalleled tension and raw emotion. With no margin for error, every shot will carry the weight of the tournament. The rapid-fire nature means the atmosphere will build continuously, with winners celebrating euphorically and losers experiencing instant, crushing disappointment. The production is expected to lean into this drama, with player microphones, slow-motion replays, and in-depth analysis of each split-second decision that leads to victory or defeat.
Beyond the prize money, the event offers a unique kind of glory. The winners will forever be known as the first champions of this bold format, having conquered a field of elite peers in the most pressurized scenario imaginable. It’s a test of clutch performance that transcends conventional tennis metrics.
As the tennis world turns its eyes to Melbourne Park once again, the Million Dollar One Point Slam represents more than just a novelty. It is a high-stakes gamble on the future of sports presentation, a celebration of tennis's most thrilling moment, and a chance to see the world's best compete for a life-changing sum in the blink of an eye. Whether it becomes a one-off spectacle or a new staple in the sport, one point has never meant so much.