Australian Open amateur beats Sinner to win 1-point Grand Slam title, wins A$1 million
MELBOURNE, Australia — A little-known local amateur became an Australian dollar millionaire on Wednesday by winning a one-point Grand Slam in an Australian Open preliminary round, beating Janik Sinner.
It was a life-changing day for Jordan Smith at Rod Laver Arena, which included No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
All matches were played in one-point elimination brackets and included men and women, professionals and amateurs, and celebrities such as Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou, who was eliminated without a hit after an ace by Petar Jovic.
Smith won a state qualifying event and received a winner-take-all bonus of A$1 million (approximately US$930,000).
The Australian player won the third shot of the final when Joanna Garland, the women’s player No. 117 from Taiwan, hit the ball wide with a two-handed backhand.
Garland’s services were determined through a game of rock, paper, scissors. Not that service is always an advantage.
Sinner dropped a point on a serve against Smith in the third round.
The same happened against Coco Gauff against Donna Vekić, while Frances Tiafoe took too long to serve to Iga Swiatek – unfortunate incidents that elicited giggles from the players involved.
Garland lost in Australian Open qualifying this week, but defeated Alexander Zverev and Nick Kyrgios, as well as Maria Sakkari and Vecic in the one-point slam. Sakkari eliminates Alcaraz.
The Australian Open begins on Sunday.
