In a stunning upset at Melbourne Park, defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner was eliminated from the tournament's newest event by a complete amateur on Wednesday night. The world number two suffered a red-faced defeat to Jordan Smith in the inaugural 'One Point Slam' at Rod Laver Arena.
The One Point Slam: Tennis Australia's Radical Innovation
The One Point Slam is a bold new innovation from Tennis Australia set for the 2026 season. The format pits amateur players against professionals in a knockout tournament, with a massive cash prize of 1 million Australian dollars (approximately £500,000) on the line. The radical twist? Every single match is decided by just one point, and the competition features both male and female players.
Second seed Sinner had initially navigated past fellow professional Pablo Carreño Busta. However, his run was abruptly halted by 29-year-old Smith from Sydney. Under the unique rules, professionals are granted one serve, while amateurs receive two attempts to land the ball in play. Sinner failed to land his single serve in Smith's service box, gifting victory to the Australian underdog.
Amateur Triumph and Celebrity Reactions
The crowd erupted after Smith's victory over the four-time Grand Slam champion, but the roof of Rod Laver Arena nearly came off when he later defeated Amanda Anisimova to be crowned the One Point Slam champion, claiming the life-changing prize. 'I can't even speak, it's unbelievable,' an elated Smith said afterwards, suggesting he might invest the money or buy a house with his girlfriend.
The extraordinary result sent ripples through the tennis world. 'It's all luck,' a laughing Smith admitted post-match. Sinner graciously responded, 'I'm glad you've got another Aussie still here!' On social media platform X, Coco Gauff commented, 'I feel better missing my serve now that Jannik and Foe did,' after she netted her own serve in a clash against Donna Vekic. She later congratulated Smith, writing, 'Great event! Haha, when it started I said I hoped an amateur would win. Congrats Jordan! Ice cold!'
High-Profile Exits and a Missed Opportunity
The event featured a vibrant atmosphere and several top names. World number one Carlos Alcaraz also suffered an early exit, defeated by world number 52 Maria Sakkari. 'I feel very good about beating Carlos,' Sakkari stated. Other stars like Nick Kyrgios, Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek, and Frances Tiafoe also took part.
However, the innovative format clearly wasn't for everyone. Some players who opted out watched from afar, with Taylor Fritz posting on X, 'Now that I'm watching it on TV, I'm really glad I didn't play the one point slam.' His sentiment hinted that those who skipped the high-pressure, sudden-death event may have avoided potential embarrassment, unlike the fallen champion Sinner, who suffered his first defeat at Melbourne Park since losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 2023 Australian Open.
