Of the four Grand Slams, two stand out above the rest in terms of prestige and popularity. However, that’s not to understate the importance of the full set.
It is inarguable, though, that Wimbledon remains the trophy that most players begin their careers dreaming of winning.
Then, once the All-England Club has been conquered, the biggest Grand Slam paycheque in the biggest stadium in tennis is likely next on their agenda, in New York.
Roland Garros and the Australian Open both have their unique charms, but always seem to be playing catch-up to the other two.
Fortunately, the latter of that duo have made a great move in an effort to bridge the gap.
Australian Open announce the one-point Slam
The Australian Open, in an effort to draw more intrigue and prize money into the event, have introduced its very own gimmick: the one-point Slam.
They will hope that this venture helps turn their tournament into a longer festival of tennis, encouraging more visitors and therefore more money.
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On their official website, they describe it as a world first, writing: “Pros, celebrities and amateurs from across the country will face off under the lights of Rod Laver Arena in an Opening Week thriller.”
They will invite eight amateurs to compete for this huge prize, as well as superstars like Carlos Alcaraz and Nick Kyrgios.
Australian Open’s great decision to copy US Open gimmick
Given the huge success of the US Open’s Mixed Doubles format, it’s no surprise that other majors would want to follow suit.
After all, the players and the fans seemed to really enjoy it, with the latter swarming to see some unlikely partnerships face off against one another.
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They revealed after the event that the full three-week crowd totalled 1,144,562, marking a 9% increase on the previous year.
Profits will have likely skyrocketed too, allowing them to offer the male and female winners of the singles tournament a mouth-watering $5 million cheque.
And, tennis fans loved the US Open’s mixed doubles format. There’s no reason why Australian fans won’t feel the same about this one-point Slam.
Hopefully, it can increase their viewing figures and help establish the Melbourne event as equal to its major competitors.
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