TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese star Jay Chou (周杰倫) stepped onto the tennis court on Wednesday (Jan. 14) for the Australian Open's 1 Point Grand Slam match, facing off against 24-year-old Australian amateur Petar Jovic. The event, which drew a nearly full house, showcased Chou's charisma and brought excitement to tennis fans as he competed against a seasoned practice partner for several tennis stars.
Chou, who had previously joked about wanting to serve first so he could at least touch the ball, lost the coin toss to Jovic, who secured the serving rights. Wearing sunglasses, Chou made a grand entrance that set the crowd cheering, and he tossed his sunglasses to a lucky fan. Despite his enthusiasm, he struggled to react to Jovic's fast serve, watching the ball land without making contact, yet he graciously applauded his opponent.
The broadcaster highlighted Chou as a Taiwanese singer and announced his participation in the match. While some spectators speculated that Chou intentionally missed the ball for entertainment, others noted the speed of Jovic's serve as a challenge for Chou, who has only played tennis for three years.
Other stars from the non-professional tennis world are participating in the 1 Point Grand Slam, including Australian football player Bailey Smith, Australian TV presenter Karl Stefanovic, and Australian comedian Andy Lee. In this high-stakes competition, every match is only one point, with the winner of the tournament receiving a AU$1 million prize. Chou had earlier said that if he won the prize, he would donate it to charity.