AO 1 Point Slam in Melbourne: Preview, format and how to watch live

Days before the 2026 Australian Open begins in Melbourne on 18 January, tennis fans will experience the second edition of the exciting AO 1 Point Slam.

The tournament is no ordinary battle of the best. Instead, Australian amateurs will compete against seasoned pros to win a share of a million Australian dollar prize pot.

Matches, or rather ‘clashes’, will be decided by a single point, with the first player to register the point advancing to the next round.

The 1 Point Slam State Championships have already taken place across Australia, with eight winners booking a spot in the main draw. Eight more entries are being decided in a qualifying round taking place between 12 and 13 January.

A total of 16 amateurs will take part in the AO 1 Point Slam, along with up to 24 top professionals (12 ATP Tour and 12 WTA Tour players) and eight wildcard entries (including celebrities and invited personalities).

The final will take place at the Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday 14 January.

AO 1 Point Slam: Format

The AO 1 Point Slam format sees the first player in each clash to register a point advance to the next round.

The action consists of a total of five knockout rounds before the final on the evening of Wednesday 14 January.

Players will play ‘rock, paper, scissors’ to determine who serves or receives. Professionals are allowed to serve once, while amateurs can do so twice.

In total, the competition will feature:

Up to 12 current ATP Tour players

Up to 12 current WTA Tour players

Up to eight wildcards

Eight State Championship winners

Eight Qualifiers

Who won the 2025 AO 1 Point Slam?

Australia’s Omar Jasika won the first edition of this competition last year, when he defeated Priscilla Hon in the final.

Hon is in the main draw for the Australian Open this weekend after being invited to compete as a wildcard.

When is the 2026 AO 1 Point Slam final?

Unlike last year, the 2026 edition of the tournament will get a primetime broadcasting slot in Australia with an evening showcase.

Held on Wednesday (14 January) at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, action will commence from 19:00 local time (8 am GMT).

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