An amateur tennis player from Sydney has secured a life-changing £500,000 prize after a stunning victory over reigning Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner in a unique, high-stakes tournament in Melbourne.
The Ultimate Grassroots Triumph
Jordan Smith, a 29-year-old club player who entered the event as the New South Wales champion, claimed the top prize of one million Australian dollars at the 'AO One Point Slam'. The tournament, staged during the opening week of the Australian Open, pits professionals against amateurs in a format where a single point decides each match.
Smith's remarkable run saw him defeat a series of professional players, including Laura Pigossi, Amanda Anisimova, and Pedro Martinez, before facing world No.2 Jannik Sinner in the third round. In a tense moment, Sinner sent his single allowed serve into the net, handing the amateur a famous victory.
A Dream Final on Rod Laver Arena
Smith's final opponent was WTA No.117 Joanna Garland, who had herself caused major upsets by beating stars like Alexander Zverev and Maria Sakkari. Cheered on by loved ones, Smith watched as Garland sent a shot wide, clinching him the title and the enormous cash prize.
The Sydney amateur lifted his arms in disbelief, staring at the roof of the iconic Rod Laver Arena—a moment he described as surreal. "I’m kind of speechless," a delighted Smith told the crowd. "I’ll definitely buy a house. Coming in tonight, I was just happy to win one point. I was nervous, but I enjoyed being out here. It was a great experience."
Levelling the Playing Field
The innovative tournament format was designed to give amateurs a fighting chance. The key rule alteration was that professionals were allowed only one serve per point, while amateurs retained the standard two. This crucial difference proved decisive in Smith's upset win over Sinner.
Smith, who started playing tennis at age three and was a promising junior, never pursued a professional career. Yet, he achieved what Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley called "the ultimate grassroots-to-Grand Slam experience." Tiley added, "The AO One Point Slam is tennis at its most exciting – one point, one shot at glory. Fast, unfiltered and open to everyone."
The event captured the imagination of the tennis world, with American star Taylor Fritz posting on X: "Now that I’m actually watching it on TV, massive L from me to not be playing the one point slam, this looks like so much fun." For Jordan Smith, it was not just fun—it was a life-altering victory on one of the sport's greatest stages.
