Underdog millionaire as local amateur beats Sinner on way to 1 Point Slam title at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia — In a stunning upset at a unique pre-tournament event, local amateur Jordan Smith secured a life-changing payday, winning the winner-take-all "1 Point Slam" at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday. Smith defeated a field that included world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and recent major champion Jannik Sinner to claim the prize of 1 million Australian dollars (approximately $670,000 USD).
The event featured a rapid-fire, single-point knockout format that mixed ATP and WTA professionals with amateur qualifiers and celebrities. Smith, who emerged from a state qualifying tournament, capitalized on the high-pressure setup. His path to the final included a third-round victory over Sinner, which he secured when the Italian netted his serve.
The final point saw Smith prevail as his opponent, world No. 117 Joanna Garland of Taiwan, sent a two-handed backhand wide. Garland's remarkable run included victories over Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, Maria Sakkari, and Donna Vekić. Sakkari had previously eliminated top seed Carlos Alcaraz from the bracket.
The unconventional format led to several surprising moments, with even the sport's biggest stars falling victim to the pressure of a single point. Coco Gauff and Frances Tiafoe were among those eliminated after service errors, with reactions ranging from shock to laughter from the participants.
The service itself was determined by a game of rock-paper-scissors, though holding serve proved to be no guarantee of success. Celebrity participant Jay Chou, the Taiwanese pop star, was eliminated without swinging a racket after Petar Jovic opened their point with an ace.
The Australian Open main draw begins Sunday at Melbourne Park.
