In a surprising turn of events ahead of the main Australian Open tournament, amateur tennis player Jordan Smith from Sydney, Australia, emerged victorious in the inaugural 'Australian Open One Point Slam' exhibition event. Smith, a 29-year-old who qualified as the New South Wales champion, claimed the top prize of AUD$1 million (approximately US$670,000 or £500,000) by defeating a field of both professional and amateur players. The unique tournament, held on January 14, 2026, on Rod Laver Arena, featured matches decided by a single point. A crucial rule for the 'One Point Slam' stipulated that professional players were allowed only one serve per point, while amateurs received two, aiming to level the playing field. This rule proved decisive in several upsets, including a significant one where world No. 2 Jannik Sinner, a two-time defending Australian Open champion, lost to Smith in the third round. Sinner's elimination came after he served the ball into the net. Beyond Sinner, Jordan Smith's remarkable run included victories over other professionals such as Laura Pigossi, Amanda Anisimova, and Pedro Martinez. In the final, Smith faced WTA world No. 117 Joanna Garland, who herself had caused upsets by beating players like Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, and Maria Sakkari. Smith ultimately triumphed when Garland's return went wide. The event, also featuring top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff, generated considerable excitement and demonstrated the unpredictable nature of the one-point format.