In a stunning upset that has rocked the tennis world, Sydney's Jordan Smith has transformed from a local battler into an overnight millionaire by claiming the winner-takes-all 'One Point Slam' at Melbourne Park.
The Ultimate Underdog Story
The 29-year-old from Castle Hill, who helps run his family's tennis academy, lived out a genuine David versus Goliath fantasy this week. Smith navigated a field packed with global superstars to secure a life-changing $1 million cheque on the hallowed court of Rod Laver Arena.
His remarkable journey to the Wednesday night final saw him claim the prized scalps of two-time defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner and dual grand slam women's finalist Amanda Anisimova. The fairytale culminated with a victory over women's world No.117, Britain's Joanna Garland, in the high-stakes decider.
"I can't even speak," an overwhelmed Smith said post-match, with his mother, father, and two brothers watching from the stands in disbelief. When asked about his plans for the monumental windfall, the humble champion kept it grounded: "Invest or buy a house, definitely, with my girlfriend."
High Pressure, Single Point Format Creates Chaos
Staged for only the second time as a pre-Australian Open spectacle, the 'One Point Slam' format is brutally simple yet utterly captivating. This year's event featured a star-studded line-up playing for a massive $1 million prize pool, a huge increase from last year's $60,000.
The competition began with 16 top-seeded pros – including world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and women's stars Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Naomi Osaka – receiving first-round byes. It then morphed into a grand slam-style knockout from the last-32 stage, with a terrifying twist: each match consisted of one single point.
The rules added to the drama: a game of 'rock, paper, scissors' replaced the coin toss, and while the 24 qualifying amateurs were allowed two serves, any current ATP or WTA-ranked player only got one. This unpredictable formula saw top names crumble under the intense pressure.
French world No.34 Corentin Moutet was the first professional eliminated, misfiring against Argentinean touring coach Andres Schneitner. Nick Kyrgios barely survived his opening match, later saying "This feels like the finals of Wimbledon." He ultimately bowed out in the quarter-finals to the eventual runner-up, Joanna Garland.
Superstars Succumb as Battlers Triumph
As the tournament progressed, the men's biggest stars fell in rapid succession. Iga Swiatek struck an early blow for the women, while Amanda Anisimova out-duelled Daniil Medvedev. Frances Tiafoe lost his nerve against Swiatek, and Carlos Alcaraz succumbed to Maria Sakkari.
Jannik Sinner confessed to feeling the heat after dumping a serve into the net to gift Smith a quarter-final berth. "You cannot imagine my heartbeat right now. It's around 200," the world No.2 admitted after a previous anxious win.
Garland, who had suffered a first-round loss in Australian Open qualifying, became a fan favourite, eliminating Alexander Zverev, Kyrgios, Maria Sakkari, and Donna Vekic. "I'm loving it," said the 24-year-old Brit, who didn't even tell friends she was competing due to low expectations.
In a showdown of the last two amateurs, Queensland state champion Alec Reverente beat Smith but had to settle for a new car. The night, however, belonged almost fittingly to a battler named Smith. "It's insane," he summarised, before walking away with the spoils of a lifetime.
