Australian amateur player Jordan Smith created a surprise by pocketing 1 million Australian dollars (574,000 euros) after winning the “One Point Slam” tournament this Wednesday, before the start of the Australian Open (January 18-February 1).
In a sold-out Rod Laver Arena, this new meeting pitted 24 professionals such as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek against 24 amateurs and guest celebrities. Each match took place on a single point: the winner continues, the loser is eliminated.
Sinner, Alcaraz, Swiatek’ au tases
To determine who serves, a game of “rock, paper, scissors” replaced the traditional toss of a coin. Unlike the professionals, the amateurs had the right to a second service.
Jordan Smith, qualified after winning the New South Wales state championship, beat 117e world player Joanna Garland in the final, after previously eliminating world No.2 Jannik Sinner and American Amanda Anisimova, 4e world player.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz lost to Sakkari (52e world), while three-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev was beaten by Anisimova.
Soon at Roland-Garros?
“Coming here, I would have been happy to just get one point,” said Smith, who plans to buy a house with the jackpot. “This event is the ultimate experience for fans to compete at Grand Slam level,” said Australian tennis director Craig Tiley.
The experience, which appealed with its format and its surprises, also won over the spectators on site given the crowds. The Rod Laver Arena was packed from start to finish of the exhibition and could give ideas to the other three Grand Slam tournaments, including Roland-Garros, to fill their Central even before the start of the competition. And thus boost their revenues a little more.
Worth a look
