There were upsets, there were laughs, there were faults from professional players, there was Nick Kyrgios smashing a racquet with a smile on his face, and at the end of the One Point Slam there was an amateur walking away with A$1 million (£490,000).Jordan Smith, who came through qualifying in New South Wales, was crowned the One Point Slam champion after an incredible run saw him beat five pros, including two-time Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner and women’s world No. 4 Amanda Anisimova.
What were the standout moments and takeaways from the entertaining event?
Alcaraz, Sinner upset
The top two men’s players in the world, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, were the headline names in the One Point Slam.
Sinner won his first match against fellow pro Pablo Carreno Busta – watched intently by Alcaraz – and said afterwards that even he was nervous.
“You cannot imagine my heart rate right now, it’s around 200,” said Sinner. “I was just happy not to serve, the problem is going to be when I serve.”
And so it proved.
One Point Slam rulesEach ‘match’ is a single pointA game of ‘rock, paper, scissors’ is played to decide who servesAmateurs get two serves, pros get just one
In Sinner’s following match, he chose to serve – and hit the ball into the net, handing a shocked Smith a pass into the next round, with the pros permitted just one serve.
“I kind of called it,” admitted Sinner with a smile.
Alcaraz was also toppled in the third round – by women’s world No. 52 Maria Sakkari.
The drop shot, so often Alcaraz’s magical weapon, proved his undoing as he chipped the ball into the net.
Alcaraz beaten by Sakkari at One Point Slam
Video credit: TNT Sports
“The drop shot is my shot, I don’t know what happened,” said Alcaraz. “It never disappoints me, not even in the toughest moments, but today it didn’t work.”
Kyrgios entertains
You can count on Nick Kyrgios to bring entertainment to any event.
Kyrgios, who is entered into doubles but not singles at the 2026 Australian Open, pulled off a brilliant passing shot to win his opener against amateur Steve Yarwood.
The shot just clipped the outside of the line and a buzzing Kyrgios said his “heart was racing”.
‘Like a Wimbledon final!’ – Kyrgios goes wild after beating amateur in One Point Slam
Video credit: TNT Sports
“It’s like the Wimbledon final,” he added.
But Kyrgios was beaten in his next match by women’s world No. 117 Joanna Garland as he hit a service return long.
Kyrgios took the defeat in amusing fashion as he smashed his racquet several times on the court – all with a big smile on his face.
‘He’s gone!’ – Kyrgios smashes racquet after One Point Slam loss
Video credit: TNT Sports
Pros hit by nerves
You’d think the professionals competing in the One Point Slam would be able to handle the nerves better than the amateurs.
But that wasn’t always the case, with Sinner not the only pro to miss a serve and hand their opponent the win.
Coco Gauff admitted she was “too tight” after faulting against Donna Vekic, while Frances Tiafoe had his head in his hands after doing the same against Iga Swiatek.
“That’s terrible, that’s horrible,” said a laughing Tiafoe.
Gauff tweeted afterwards: “I feel better about missing my serve now that Jannik and Foe did. #NotAlone.”
‘The champ has fallen!’ – Sinner beaten by amateur at One Point Slam
Video credit: TNT Sports
Smith a perfect winner
The One Point Slam could hardly have been scripted better.
The star names were upset and an amateur from New South Wales won a life-changing prize in a final against women’s world No. 117 Garland, who would have doubled her career prize money if she had won.
Smith’s run saw him topple Sinner, Anisimova and Pedro Martinez, while British-born Garland beat Alexander Zverev, Kyrgios and Sakkari.
Garland opted to serve first in the final but missed with a backhand to hand Smith victory.
“I can’t even speak, that’s unbelievable,” said Smith. “Coming into tonight, I was happy winning one point, I was so nervous, it was a great experience.”
‘So much fun’
The Australian Open looks to have a hit with the One Point Slam.
The pros appeared to enjoy it – both when playing and when watching beside the court – and world No. 9 Taylor Fritz said he was disappointed to miss out.
“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,” wrote Fritz on X.
Alcaraz and Tiafoe stayed until the end to watch the final and were both jumping for joy when amateur Smith won.
Naomi Osaka had some banter with Australian comedian Andy Lee, and Donna Vekic seemed to be loving things throughout as she was either smiling or laughing.
The most entertaining point of the event was early on when amateur Petar Jovic hit an excellent tweener against Daniil Medvedev – but still didn’t win the point.
Medvedev wins ‘point of the night’ after amateur’s tweener
Video credit: TNT Sports
Also, rock, paper, scissors to decide who serves? Bring it into the professional game.
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