A little-known local amateur player defeated Jannik Sinner to make himself an Australian dollar millionaire after winning the 1 Point Slam at the Australian Open pre-tournament event on Wednesday.
It was a life-changing day for Jordan Smith at Rod Laver Arena, with top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in attendance.
All matches lasted one point in a knockout series featuring men and women, professionals and amateurs, plus celebrities such as Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou, who was eliminated without touching the ball after an ace from Petar Jovic.
Smith emerged from a state qualifying event to receive the winner-take-all prize of 1 million Australian dollars, or about $670,000.
The Australian won on the third stroke of the final when Joanna Garland, the women’s number 117 from Taiwan, sent a two-handed backhand wide.
Garland had serve, which was decided by playing rock, paper, scissors. Not that serving was always an advantage. Sinner lost his point in the third round against Smith by hitting his serve.
Coco Gauff did the same against Donna Vekić, and Frances Tiafoe sent his serve long to Iga Swiatek – mishaps that prompted giggles and laughter from the players involved.
Garland lost in qualifying for the Australian Open this week, but still climbed 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 the star power or large prize pool.
With the US Open raising the stakes for the previous week with the renewal of the mixed doubles, the Australian Open responded by bringing the 1-Point Slam to Rod Laver Arena, enticing the sport’s biggest names and a sell-out crowd.
The main draw of the Australian Open starts on Sunday.
The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.
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