Thursday Feb 19, 2026
Thursday Feb 19, 2026
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Amateur player Jordan Smith (left) embraces Jannik Sinner of Italy during the ‘One Point Slam’ exhibition event before the 2026 Australian Open
Amateur Jordan Smith sensationally upset a star-studded field to collect a 1 million Australian dollars ($ 670,000) prize yesterday by winning the pressure-packed ‘One Point Slam’ in advance of the Australian Open.
The innovative sudden-death contest at a sold-out Rod Laver Arena pitted 24 professionals led by Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff alongside 24 amateurs and celebrity wildcards.
Each match consisted of just one point – win and you advanced, lose and you were out.
The 16 top-seeded professionals had first-round byes before the competition morphed into a Grand Slam-style knockout from the last-32 stage onwards.
Instead of a traditional coin toss, a game of “rock, paper, scissors” decided who served. Crucially, the amateurs were allowed two serves, but any current Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) or Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)-ranked players only one.
Australia’s Smith, who qualified as the New South Wales champion, beat world number 117 Joanna Garland in the final, having upset Sinner and Amanda Anisimova along the way.
Taiwan no. 1 Garland beat Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, and Maria Sakkari.
Top-ranked Alcaraz fell to women’s world no. 52 Sakkari, while three-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev was beaten by Anisimova before she was sent packing by Smith. Swiatek lost to Spain’s Pedro Martinez.
The Australian Open starts at Melbourne Park on Sunday with Sinner defending the men’s title and Madison Keys the women’s.
