Amateur Smith upsets Sinner to win ‘One Point Slam’ before Australian Open

Unknown Jordan Smith upstages a star-studded tennis tract including No 1 Jannik Sinner to triumph a 1-million prize purse.

Amateur Jordan Smith sensationally upset a star-studded tract to cod a $1 cardinal Australian dollars (US$670,000) prize connected Wednesday by winning the pressure-packed “One Point Slam” up of the Australian Open.

The innovative sudden-death contention astatine a sold-out Rod Laver Arena pitted 24 professionals led by Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff alongside 24 amateurs and personage wildcards.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 3AFCON: Unbeaten Nigeria collide with tourney favourites Morocco successful semi
• list 2 of 3Aubameyang returns arsenic Gabon lifts team’s suspension aft AFCON exit
• list 3 of 3‘Cardinal sin’: Why was Alonso sacked by Real Madrid, and who’s Arbeloa?

Each lucifer consisted of 1 conscionable constituent – triumph and you advanced, suffer and you were out.

The 16 top-seeded professionals had first-round byes earlier the contention morphed into a Grand Slam-style knockout from the last-32 signifier onwards.

Instead of a accepted coin toss, a crippled of “rock, paper, scissors” decided who served.

Crucially, the amateurs were allowed 2 serves but immoderate existent ATP oregon WTA-ranked players lone one.

Australia’s Smith, who qualified arsenic the New South Wales champion, bushed satellite fig 117 Joanna Garland successful the final, having upset Sinner and Amanda Anisimova on the way.

Taiwan fig 1 Garland bushed Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios and Maria Sakkari.

“Coming successful tonight, I was conscionable blessed to triumph 1 point,” said Smith, who planned to bargain a location with his winnings.

“I was nervous, but I enjoyed being retired here. Was a large experience.”

Jordan Smith celebrates his improbable triumph successful the ‘One Point Slam’ [Graham Denholm/Getty Images]

Big names fall

Top-ranked Alcaraz fell to women’s satellite fig 52 Sakkari, portion three-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev was beaten by Anisimova earlier she was sent packing by Smith.

Swiatek mislaid to Spain’s Pedro Martinez.

The amateur tract comprised winners of 8 authorities title rounds played crossed Australia, on with 8 others who came done qualifying this week.

Eight wildcards went to celebrities, including Taiwanese vocalist Jay Chou.

“This lawsuit is the eventual grassroots-to-Grand Slam experience,” Tennis Australia main Craig Tiley told reporters.

“The AO One Point Slam is tennis astatine its astir breathtaking – 1 point, 1 changeable astatine glory. Fast, unfiltered and unfastened to everyone.”

The Australian Open starts astatine Melbourne Park connected Sunday with Sinner defending the men’s rubric and Madison Keys the women’s.