Toppling a giant is never easy, but at One Point Slam, Jannik Sinner found himself on the wrong side of a surprise. The Italian, who had been unbeaten on Rod Laver Arena since 2023, tasted defeat at the hands of an amateur for the first time.

As the match kicked off, Sinner missed his serve and bowed out to 29-year-old amateur Jordan Smith from New South Wales. It was a moment to watch as Smith became the star of the show at Rod Laver Arena.

The crowd roared as he pulled off one shock after another. The local hero stunned women’s world No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, then powered past world No. 117 Joanna Garland in a thrilling finale. In the end, the local sealed his fairytale week with the million-dollar AUD (668,500 USD) win and a new Kia car.

The event buzzed with good energy from start to finish. Fans packed Rod Laver Arena, pros and amateurs mingled, and even the top seeds couldn’t look away. The event’s rules were a bit out of the norm, but it brought excitement for sure.

Each match of the One Point Slam came down to just a single rally, one point, one shot at glory. Players settled the serve with a quick game of rock, paper, scissors, then stepped up to decide it all. The ultimate showdown took place at the 14,800-capacity Rod Laver Arena, where the winner kept moving forward until the last ball dropped.

The entry list was stacked with eight amateur state champions, including a 35-year-old tennis coach from Tasmania, a rock-paper-scissors pro, and a former Indian Davis Cup player.

The pros came ready for fun and fire. The lineup included Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Lorenzo Musetti, Alexander Bublik, Daniil Medvedev, and Tommy Paul, who led the men’s pack.

On the women’s side, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, Belinda Bencic, Naomi Osaka, and Paula Badosa joined the lineup, making it one of the most unpredictable mini-events tennis has ever seen.

The idea started a year earlier, when the Australian Open staged its first One Point Slam in 2025. Back then, the prize fund was just A$60,000 (£29,400), and only Russia’s Andrey Rublev represented the top 10; his run ended the moment his serve clipped the net. Australian pro Omar Jasika claimed the title after 16 amateurs, aged 15 to 72, fought it out against 16 pros.

This year, the fresh twist worked, and the players and those who weren’t present sure had quite a good time before the main draw kicks off.

Jannik Sinner and more tip their hats to the winner of the 2026 One Point Slam

After the match, Jordan Smith couldn’t stop smiling as he spoke about the surreal moment.

“Coming into tonight, I would have been happy winning just one point,” he said. “I was so nervous but enjoyed being out here, it was a great experience.”

He certainly left his mark on Rod Laver Arena. Even Jannik Sinner took the defeat in stride, sharing a message that won the crowd’s hearts.

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“I kind of called it, so that happens! I’m happy you guys have one more Australian still here. Thanks for having me, and enjoy the night,” he said.

From the locker rooms, support poured in. Carlos Alcaraz, who fell to Maria Sakkari in the round of 16, was among the first to post about the stunning upset. He simply wrote, “Jordan Smith.” The Spaniard and Frances Tiafoe reportedly erupted with joy watching the local hero lift the title.

Taylor Fritz wasn’t listed in the draw, but that didn’t stop him from saying he wanted in. Posting on X, the American remarked: “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 [laughing emoji].”

Coco Gauff, who did compete, joined the wave of excitement online. She praised Smith’s gutsy performance, writing: “Great event! lol I said when it started I hoped an amateur won !! Congrats Jordan. Soooo cold #1pointslam.”

The American star had faced her own early exit, losing to Donna Vekic after missing her single serve. But she took comfort in knowing she wasn’t alone. On X, she added: “I feel better about missing my serve now that Jannik and Foe (Frances Tiafoe) did.”

Even hometown favorite Alex de Minaur got caught up in the frenzy, celebrating Smith’s win with a proud post: “Yessssssss Jordan Smith! Best moment of the year!”

What started as a fun side event became a roaring success. But for the stars of the ATP and WTA, the actual work begins now as the main draw at Melbourne Park kicks off Sunday! The question remains: who’s taking the big title this time?