Amateur Jordan Smith Wins A$1 Million at Australian Open One Point Slam After Stunning Top Pros
Amateur Jordan Smith won A$1 million at the Australian Open's One Point Slam, defeating top players including Jannik Sinner and Amanda Anisimova in single-point matches.
Overview
Jordan Smith, a New South Wales state champion amateur, won A$1 million after single-point victories over top pros including Jannik Sinner and Amanda Anisimova.
The One Point Slam at Rod Laver Arena featured 48 competitors—24 professionals, 24 amateurs/wildcards—and used rock-paper-scissors to decide serving in sudden-death, single-point knockout matches.
Amateurs received two serves while ATP/WTA-ranked players had one, creating an equalizing advantage that helped underdogs produce multiple upsets against high-ranked opponents.
Other shocks included Maria Sakkari beating world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz and Taiwan's Joanna Garland defeating stars such as Alexander Zverev and Nick Kyrgios to reach the final.
Organizers hailed the event—created by tournament director Craig Tiley—as a fan-friendly, attention-grabbing experiment to bridge grassroots tennis and Grand Slams ahead of the Australian Open.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the event as a feel-good underdog triumph and commercial success, using celebratory language ("stuns", "roaring success", "masterstroke"), prioritizing amateur winners and organizer praise while omitting critical perspectives on gimmickry or commercialization. Player quotes provide human color but are not used to complicate the upbeat narrative.
Sources (3)
FAQ
The One Point Slam is an innovative single-point knockout tennis competition at Rod Laver Arena with 48 competitors (24 pros, 24 amateurs/wildcards), where rock-paper-scissors decides the server, and the point winner advances; amateurs get two serves, pros get one.
Jordan Smith defeated Jannik Sinner, Amanda Anisimova, and Joanna Garland in the final.
Amateurs received two serves per point, while ATP/WTA-ranked professionals had only one serve.
Joanna Garland, a British-born Taiwanese player ranked world No. 117, was the runner-up after defeating Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, Maria Sakkari, and Donna Vekic.
Jordan Smith plans to buy a house with his A$1 million winnings.
History
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