New Delhi: Amateur tennis player Jordan Smith took home A$1m (£496,835) after beating some of the world’s best professional players at the Australian Open’s Million Dollar One Point Slam.
The one-of-a-kind format offered a unique opportunity to amateur players to win the whopping prize money by playing a single point against the top tennis stars.
Smith stole the show on Rod Laver Arena with a deserved win against world number 117, Joanna Garland, in the grand finale. The New South Wales state champion also defeated women’s world number four Amanda Anisimova.
A local amateur WINS the 1 Point Slam!
Jordan Smith defeats world No.117 Joanna Garland and pockets a MILLION dollars, driven by @kiaaustralia pic.twitter.com/7AAX8YFl8A
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2026
In the final, Smith benefited from an unforced error from Taiwanese 24-year-old Joanna, who had qualified for the summit clash after stunning men’s world number three Alexander Zverev and former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios.
Besides Smith, Queensland state champion Alec Reverente also enjoyed a memorable evening with a win over men’s world number seven Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The two best-performing amateurs, Smith and Reverente, also clashed to win a brand new car, with Reverente triumphing.
Staged four days ahead of the Australian Open 2026, the feel-good tournament was attended by close to 10000 fans and was watched from the sidelines by some of the biggest names on the circuit.
Even a raquet smash by local favourite Kyrgios was executed humorously.
Several beaten players, including world number one Carlos Alcaraz, remained on the sidelines of the court to watch the grand finale between the two unlikely finalists.
One of the most memorable wins for Smith came against world number two Sinner, who failed to land his serve. In the One Point Grand Slam, professionals were only granted one opportunity to get it right.
Jordan Smith embraces Jannik Sinner of Italy during the 1 Point Slam ahead of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 14, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
One-Point Slam proves to be a roaring success
The One Point Slam event featured a total of 48 competitors, including 24 top professionals.
Eight amateur winners of state championship rounds, eight players who qualified for the Australian Open, and another eight wildcards – including celebrities and invited personalities – rounded off the field of players.
The game of ‘rock, paper, scissors’ decided the player who would serve first, with the winner of the single point progressing in a knockout format.
The One Point Slam event debuted ahead of the Australian Open 2025, but the prize money was relatively less – A$60,000 (£29,808). Russia’s Andrey Rublev was the only top-10 player involved last year.
Tennis authorities are trying innovative ways to attract new interest in the sport, and unique and awarding initiatives like One Point Slam could go a long way towards achieving the desired result.