A little-known local amateur player beat Jannik Sinner and went on to make himself a millionaire in Australian dollars after winning the 1 Point Slam on Wednesday at the Australian Open’s pre-tournament event.
It was a life-changing day for Jordan Smith in the Rod Laver Arena, with the event including top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz.
All the matches lasted one point in a knockout bracket that included men and women, professionals and amateurs, plus celebrities such as Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou, who was knocked out without hitting the ball after an ace from Petar Jovic.
Smith emerged from a state qualifying event to get the winner-take-all prize of 1 million Australian dollars, or around $670,000.
The Australian won on the third stroke of the final when Joanna Garland, the women’s No. 117 from Taiwan, sent a two-handed backhand wide.
Garland had service, which was decided by playing rock, paper, scissors. Not that serving was always an advantage. Sinner lost his third-round point against Smith by netting his serve.
So did Coco Gauff against Donna Vekić, and Frances Tiafoe sent his serve to Iga Swiatek long — mishaps that provoked giggles and laughs from the players involved.
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Garland lost in Australian Open qualifying this week yet surged through the 1 Point Slam bracket by beating Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, Maria Sakkari and Vekić. Sakkari eliminated Alcaraz.
The 1 Point Slam 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 sellout crowd.
The Australian Open main draw starts Sunday.
The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.
