A 29-year-old amateur tennis coach from Sydney has become Australia's newest millionaire after pulling off one of the most remarkable upsets in recent sporting memory. Jordan Smith defeated a series of top professionals and celebrities to claim the A$1 million prize in the Australian Open's One Point Slam exhibition event on Wednesday night.
The Unlikely Triumph on Rod Laver Arena
Thirteen hours after his life-changing victory, and having slept for less than three hours, Smith was thrust into a whirlwind of media attention at Melbourne Park. "No one's really experienced this before, right?" he remarked, still processing the enormity of his achievement. "So waking up, yeah, I didn't really know what to expect."
His fairytale run on the iconic Rod Laver Arena began with a victory over AFL star Bailey Smith, forced an error from the footballer with a solid serve. He then ousted world number 86 Laura Pigossi in a tight rally. The moment that truly defied belief came in the third round, when two-time defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner faulted against the amateur, leaving Smith with his hands on his head in disbelief before he ran to the net with his now-famous grin.
The 'Smiling Assassin' Seals the Deal
Known in Sydney's Hills District tennis circles as the "smiling assassin"—a nickname given by a year seven teacher—Smith's cheerful demeanour carried him through. "I always do smile, no matter really what," Smith admitted. "That's what a lot of people I play in matches, they say it's so annoying because I'm just smiling the whole time. But no, I do enjoy it."
His strong serve saw off Wimbledon and US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova in the quarter-finals. He then held his nerve to defeat professionals Pedro Martinez and Joanna Garland in the final rounds, securing the winner-takes-all jackpot.
Life After the Million-Dollar Point
The win has instantly altered the future for Smith, who regularly works 50-hour weeks at his parents' tennis academy in Castle Hill. His girlfriend, cyber lawyer Jessica Brand, watched the drama unfold from the stands alongside his family. "We all jumped up, we were all shaking, all of our stuff was on the floor," she said, struggling to find the words. "It was unbelievable."
The pair now have more feasible plans to travel to Japan and New Zealand, with a European trip earmarked for 2027. While there has been much discussion about him buying property in Sydney's tough market, Smith is trying to stay grounded. "It's going to help me for sure but I haven't really thought too much about the money," he said, focusing instead on the experience of playing centre court against top professionals.
A significant question remains over the tax liability on the prize, which could exceed $400,000. "I'm not sure if it is going in tax or not, or if it's prize, but I'll sort that out a bit later," Smith stated pragmatically.
As the media frenzy begins to subside, Smith hopes to be remembered simply as "a guy from Sydney, Castle Hill, with a big smile. Just a guy that loves tennis." For now, the smiling assassin from the suburbs is enjoying his moment as the author of a perfect sporting fairytale.
