On Friday, October 18, 2024, the fourth edition of Red Bull BassLine kicks off at 7 p.m. - and celebrates a premiere. For the first time, the international tennis stars will be playing on the center court of the Wiener Stadthalle, after the first three editions at Heumarkt were sold out. The first top tennis star has already been confirmed: Last year's winner Alexander Zverev wants to defend his Red Bull BassLine title.
Six of the best tennis players in the world will duel it out in an entertaining tie-break format in the Wiener Stadthalle. It is still a closely guarded secret which top players will venture onto the center court at Red Bull BassLine 2024. Leading the field of top tennis stars, however, will be the world No. 3 and last year's winner Alexander Zverev. The 27-year-old German wants to become the first player in the history of Red Bull BassLine to successfully defend his title. A look back confirms that this will not be easy: three illustrious names - Carlos Alcaraz (2021), Karen Khachanov (2022) and Alexander Zverev (2023) - have already entered their names on the list of winners of the innovative tennis spectacle - and the ATP stars will also do everything they can to dethrone the defending champion in 2024.
The rules
At Red Bull BassLine, six players will compete against each other in two groups of three in an entertaining best-of-three tie-break format. The tennis fans in the Wiener Stadthalle will have a say in which players face each other in the group stage. The two group winners will contest the final. Whoever has five points first wins the set. This reinforces the dynamics of Red Bull BassLine, as does the rule that there is no difference of two points - in other words, whoever scores the next point at 4:4 to make it 5:4 has won the round.
The Red Bull BassLine format is interactive and there are no referees. Instead, the task of the line judges is taken over by “electronic line calling”. Between the points, moderators will collect votes from the participants, who will also be preparing for their next bouts on ergometers in the athletes' zone. DJ in-style will heat up the atmosphere with hot rhythms in the spirit of the stars and fans. The entire tournament program will last around three hours, from the first serve to the decision in the final.
