Amateur Smith upsets Sinner to win ‘One Point Slam’ before Australian Open

Amateur Smith upsets Sinner to win ‘One Point Slam’ before Australian OpenUnknown Jordan Smith upstages a star-studded tennis field including No 1 Jannik Sinner to win a 1-million prize purse.Published On 14 Jan 2026Amateur Jordan Smith sensationally upset a star-studded field to collect a 1 million Australian dollars (US$670,000) prize on Wednesday by winning the pressure-packed “One Point Slam” in advance of the Australian Open.The innovative sudden-death contest at a sold-out Rod Laver Arena pitted 24 professionals led by Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff alongside 24 amateurs and celebrity wildcards.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3AFCON: Unbeaten Nigeria collide with tournament favourites Morocco in semilist 2 of 3Aubameyang returns as Gabon lifts team’s suspension after AFCON exitlist 3 of 3‘Cardinal sin’: Why was Alonso sacked by Real Madrid, and who’s Arbeloa?end of listEach match consisted of just one point – win and you advanced, lose and you were out.The 16 top-seeded professionals had first-round byes before the competition morphed into a Grand Slam-style knockout from the last-32 stage onwards.Instead of a traditional coin toss, a game of “rock, paper, scissors” decided who served.Crucially, the amateurs were allowed two serves, but any current ATP or WTA-ranked players only one.Australia’s Smith, who qualified as the New South Wales champion, beat world number 117 Joanna Garland in the final, having upset Sinner and Amanda Anisimova along the way.Taiwan number one Garland beat Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios and Maria Sakkari.“Coming in tonight, I was just happy to win one point,” said Smith, who planned to buy a house with his winnings.“I was nervous, but I enjoyed being out here. Was a great experience.”Jordan Smith celebrates his unlikely victory in the ‘One Point Slam’ [Graham Denholm/Getty Images]Big names fallTop-ranked Alcaraz fell to women’s world number 52 Sakkari, while three-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev was beaten by Anisimova before she was sent packing by Smith.