Amateur Jordan Smith Triumphs for A$1 Million in Melbourne

Wed Jan 14 2026 18:56:42 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a surprising turn of events, amateur player Jordan Smith managed to outshine tennis elite, including world number two Jannik Sinner, to win the inaugural Million Dollar One Point Slam at the Australian Open, securing A$1 million and a legacy of his own.

Jordan Smith made headlines at the Australian Open's Million Dollar One Point Slam by defeating world-class players, including Jannik Sinner and Amanda Anisimova, to claim a staggering A$1 million in prize money. The innovative tournament format allowed amateurs to compete against top professionals, culminating in an unforgettable night for both players and fans alike.

Amateur player Jordan Smith would have been happy winning just one point - but walked away with A$1m (£496,835) and bragging rights over world number two Jannik Sinner as he triumphed at the Australian Open's Million Dollar One Point Slam.

The innovative format offered amateur players the opportunity to win the prize money by playing a sole point against some of the sport's top talent and other famous faces.

Smith was the star of the show on Rod Laver Arena, also defeating women's world number four Amanda Anisimova in front of almost 15,000 people.

Smith faced women's world number 117 Joanna Garland in a fitting finale, after the Taiwanese 24-year-old stunned men's world number three Alexander Zverev and former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios.

New South Wales state champion Smith was not the only amateur to seize his moment in the spotlight, with Queensland state champion Alec Reverente beating men's world number seven Felix Auger-Aliassime.

As the two best performing amateurs, Smith and Reverente also went head-to-head to win a brand new car, with Reverente triumphing.

The tournament was played in good spirits - even a racquet smash by Kyrgios following his defeat was performed with humour - and generated genuine intrigue.

Many of the beaten players, including men's number one Carlos Alcaraz, remained at Rod Laver Arena and gathered around televisions to watch the conclusion between the two unlikely finalists.

“Coming into tonight I would have been happy winning just one point,” said Smith, who won national titles as a junior. “I was so nervous but enjoyed being out here; it was a great experience.”

The event, held four days before the Australian Open starts on Sunday, featured a total of 48 competitors, including 24 top professionals. The tournament format included a single point, knockout-style matches that captivated both the players and the audience.

This innovative event turned out to be a masterstroke by Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley, as it showcased the balance between professional and amateur players, allowing for an exhilarating experience for all involved.