Haier Group’s premium home appliance brand Casarte has signed an agreement to become the exclusive chief partner in China for the Australian Open’s “One-Point Slam,” officials announced during a press conference in China. The partnership integrates high-end competitive tennis with smart home technology, establishing a series of regional qualifiers across five Chinese cities that will offer amateurs a direct path to the global tournament in Melbourne.
Expanding the One-Point Slam in China
The Australian Open’s One-Point Slam format strips traditional matches down to a single decisive point, creating a high-pressure, unpredictable environment designed to give recreational players a chance at a Grand Slam moment. Australian Open Chief Tennis Officer Tom Larner noted that the format reflects the tournament’s vision of making elite competition accessible to everyone, expressing enthusiasm for the partnership with Haier Group and Casarte to bring the event to domestic courts and guide Chinese players toward Melbourne Park.
Registration for the qualifying events opens officially, kicking off a five-city tour across Hangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Chengdu. The relay begins in Hangzhou, where competition gets underway at local courts. Winners from each urban stop secure direct qualification to the China official grand final, where the ultimate victor earns a trip to Melbourne alongside a cash prize purse.
City Captains and Local Competition Structure
Rather than functioning as a standard traveling tournament, the five-city relay introduces a localized community structure. Casarte has appointed prominent figures within regional tennis circles to serve as city captains. These leaders will establish municipal teams, guiding local players through training regimens, roster adjustments, and qualifying rounds leading up to the final showdown in Chengdu.
The initiative aligns with the brand’s positioning in the high-end appliance market. Marking its twentieth anniversary under the philosophy of uncompromising quality, the brand emphasizes precision, elegance, and lifestyle integration—traits executives link directly to the disciplines of tennis.
Integrating AI Home Scenarios at Tournament Sites
Alongside the competitive courts, tournament venues will feature specialized AI living scenario experience zones. Visitors can interact with smart home setups that connect athletic recovery with household management. Following a match, athletic gear can be handled by smart washing systems offering tailored fabric care and drying cycles. Meanwhile, refrigeration units equipped with rapid defrosting technology can prepare nutritional supplements within minutes.
Additional technology integrations span climate control systems designed to direct airflow away from active individuals, advanced water filtration units, and centralized display hubs that monitor household appliance statuses. Event attendees can also leave feedback and suggestions on dedicated community boards, with popular concepts submitted to product development teams for potential future upgrades.
The multi-city tournament concludes its preliminary phase with the national final in Chengdu, determining which competitors advance to the international stage in Melbourne.
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