Sydney amateur Jordan Smith beat defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner on his way to claiming the $1 million Australian dollar first prize at the Australian Open’s 1 Point Slam.
The innovative competition, with all matches lasting only one point, featured a star-studded field, but it was Smith, who won a regional qualifying competition to take part, who emerged as the unlikely recipient of the winner-take-all prize of about $670,000.
In the final, Smith defeated British-born Taiwanese player Joanna Garland, who had played fearlessly to beat Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, Maria Sakkari and Donna Vekic.
The event debuted last year but on a much smaller stage and without either the star power or the big prize pot.
With the US Open raising the stakes for the preliminary week with its mixed doubles revamp, the Australian Open responded by taking the 1-Point Slam to Rod Laver Arena and tempting the sport’s biggest names and a sell-out crowd.
The inclusion of amateurs and celebrities — Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou did not come close to hitting a ball but had fans rushing from their seats for a glimpse — gave the event a different dimension, and the nerves amid the pro ranks were palpable, not least because they had only one serve each.
Sinner and Coco Gauff were among those to blow their opportunity by netting serves, with the server of each contest decided by a game of rock, paper, scissors.
Last month’s Battle of the Sexes between Aryna Sabalenka and Kyrgios, which was won by the Australian, had plenty of critics, but the women excelled in this format.
Iga Swiatek beat Flavio Cobolli — who looked genuinely annoyed — and Frances Tiafoe, Amanda Anisimova saw off Daniil Medvedev, and a delighted Sakkari toppled Carlos Alcaraz.
But it was Garland, the world No. 117 who lost in Australian Open qualifying Tuesday, who outdid them all, showcasing some impressive shots before missing a final backhand.
