“I wish she was competing”: Saville laughs about Swiatek watching One Point from the sidelines

With the 2026 season looming, the Australian tennis summer is bracing for the return of its most volatile and high-stakes exhibition. Joining the conversation on The Tennis podcast, Australian fan-favorite Daria Saville, alongside her husband and fellow pro Luke Saville, dove into the chaotic appeal of the "One Point Slam." The couple dissected the unique pressure of the format, with Daria taking center stage to explain why, despite the life-changing money on the table, her current circumstances keep her firmly on the sidelines.

The event, which returns on January 14, 2026, has introduced a dimension of tension rarely seen in professional sports. The format remains brutal in its simplicity: 48 participants—ranging from Grand Slam champions to amateurs and celebrities—must win a single point to advance.

There are no second serves for the losers and no second chances. While the concept is thrilling for fans, the financial allure for the players is undeniable, with a massive 1 million AUD (approx. €570,000) prize awarded for winning just one final exchange. For Saville, the cash is tempting, though she admits her surface preference would play a role in her confidence. "We definitely need a million dollars. I'll be honest, [if] it was on the clay. If it was on the grass, I was in."

Currently stepping away from the tour due to pregnancy, the Aussie recognizes that playing could affect the conditions of her protected ranking for her return to the courts. "I actually can't because then my protected ranking will start. Like I'll have to reset my protected ranking, so," she stated, before joking about the strategy she would use to try and win the prize. "Do you think if I played pregnant... people would feel bad?" the former world No. 20 said with a laugh.

The roster for the 2026 edition guarantees that whoever wins will have to go through titans of the sport. The field is headlined by World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and two-time defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner. They are joined by box-office superstar Nick Kyrgios, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Coco Gauff.

History has shown that ranking offers no protection in this format; in 2025, Andrey Rublev was the only Top 10 player to enter and was eliminated early, while the title went to Australian Omar Jasika, who was ranked 179th at the time.

Reflecting on the nerves involved, Daria shared a locker room memory of World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, who was critical of the conservative play she saw on TV last year, urging the Polish star to back up her words with action. "It's funny because Iga... was in the locker rooms when I was there and we were just watching it on TV. And she's like, 'they need to step up and do something.' And I'm like, 'they're pretty tight and nervous.'... I wish she was actually competing."

Beyond the exhibition spectacle, the Savilles shifted their focus to the serious business of the upcoming Grand Slam season and the prospects of Novak Djokovic. As the tour moves toward 2026, the question of how much the Serbian legend has left in the tank dominates discussions.

Luke Saville offered a respectful assessment, suggesting that Djokovic’s recent pacing and lighter schedule are calculated moves to gear up for one final major strike. "I'm thinking he might be good for one title, one slam. Just feel like he's been almost pacing himself a little bit last few months and just gearing up for, you know, obviously the last couple of years of his career."

The landscape of men's tennis has shifted, however, with Sinner and Alcaraz solidifying their dominance at the top. Luke pinpointed the specific venues where the 24-time Grand Slam champion's experience still gives him a fighting chance. "I feel like Wimbledon and the AO [Australian Open], his best chances. And as we speak about a lot with the Alex de Minaur situation, beating both Sinner and Alcaraz is obviously the challenge at a Grand Slam."

Daria Saville took a slightly more conservative view regarding the Serbian’s ceiling for the upcoming year. While she acknowledged the danger of betting against the statistical GOAT, her prediction for his 2026 campaign stopped short of a trophy, forecasting deep runs but perhaps falling just shy of the ultimate prize. "I put down two semifinals. But I feel like I'm very much underestimating Novak," she said. "The least he's going to do is two semi-finals. His worst results will be semis, worst-case scenario."

Ultimately, while agreeing with Luke on where Djokovic is most dangerous, Daria highlighted the specific obstacle waiting for him at Rod Laver Arena. With Jannik Sinner entering the season as a double defending champion in Melbourne, the Australian Open has become a fortress for the Italian, making Djokovic's path to a potential 25th major significantly steeper. "I think I agree with Luke. His best chances are Australian Open and Wimbledon. But obviously, yeah, it'll be really hard to beat Jannik [Sinner] in Australia."