The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix has announced the introduction of its own ‘One Point Challenge’, inspired by the success of a similar format at the Australian Open earlier this year.
This exhibition event will occur alongside the main WTA tournament in April in Stuttgart, featuring both professional tennis players and athletes from other sports in a one-point knockout format.
Elena Rybakina is set to be one of the main participants, alongside Germany’s Laura Siegemund. The tournament aims to capture the excitement generated by the Australian Open’s ‘One Point Slam’. This event included top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner competing against amateur players, with a $1 million prize pool contributing to its popularity.
In Stuttgart, the format will again blend professional players with non-tennis athletes. Bundesliga goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow, currently with VfB Stuttgart, will join the event, switching from football to tennis on April 13, coinciding with the main draw of the clay-court tournament.
Stuttgart adopts Australian Open’s innovative style
The ‘One Point Challenge’ in Stuttgart is directly inspired by the ‘One Point Slam’ at the Australian Open, where professional athletes faced amateurs in fast, high-pressure matches. Amateur Jordan Smith won, marking a successful fan engagement initiative.
By implementing a similar format, Stuttgart hopes to maintain the momentum while personalizing it to fit its audience. Rybakina’s participation adds a competitive edge due to her status as a former Stuttgart champion, while Bredlow’s involvement introduces a crossover appeal for sports fans.
Rybakina’s participation follows her recent semifinals appearance at the Miami Open, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka. The Kazakh, who claimed the Stuttgart title in 2024, is eager to prepare competitively while also engaging in the exhibition.
In addition to Rybakina and Siegemund, the Stuttgart draw is expected to include many top players, making the ‘One Point Challenge’ a notable feature during the tournament week, enhancing its visibility early in the season.
Stuttgart holds strong status as a WTA 500 event
Stuttgart is a leading WTA 500 event, featuring top-tier talent during the clay-court season. Jelena Ostapenko is the defending champion, having defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 final. Sabalenka, ranked World No. 1, aims to capture a title that has eluded her despite four finals appearances without a win.
Returning champions include Ostapenko (2025), Rybakina (2024), Iga Swiatek (2022, 2023), and Siegemund (2017). The tournament will feature seven top-10 players and 14 athletes in the top 20.
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