Joy Week Continues: One Shot Tournament Down Under

Tennis grand slams have been trying to spice things up to get more rears in the seats the week before the tourney starts. 

Last year the US Open changed how the mixed doubles tournament was set up by pairing up the top men's and women's singles players. This drew huge numbers. The eventual winners, an actual specialist mixed doubles team not made up of the top ranked pairings, won the title for the second year in a row. That format will likely continue this year. But what really drove the US Open to try and switch it up?

The Australian Open. Last year they had a one shot tournament. Basically two players rock, paper, scissored for serve and they play one point. Winner goes on, loser is out. Amateurs and Pros are in the draw. Last year the prize was about $40K USD. This year they bumped it up to $1 Million USD.

Amateurs qualify via state/Regional tournaments. So you have a total of 64 people (pros and amateurs) playing one point matches for $1 million dollars. Not much pressure.

The video is a little long but shows the progression of one contestant through to the end. The title spoils the fairy tale ending but he does beat the No. 2 player in the world along the way. 

I'm sure Dave is now looking for one point pickle ball tournaments or will try to start it up at OBFT.

Yes!

Hyperbole is the coin of the sports media realm. Perhaps it's always been so. But 35 years ago today, the greatest upset in the history of international sports took place, and you'll never convince me otherwise.

I watched it in the living room of my family's cramped military-issue apartment. After the second period, the local news cut in and told us that the USA had won (the game itself was tape-delayed). At once incredulous about the result and annoyed that it had been revealed, we nonetheless watched the third period on the edge of our seats. Even as we knew what was coming, we couldn't make ourselves believe it.

Here's the final minute. Without fail, it produces goosebumps when I watch it. Without fail.



And if you've got some time to kill, here's the whole glorious thing.