An amateur tennis player from Sydney, Jordan Smith, made history this Wednesday (14) by taking home a check for US$661,000 (R$3.5 million) after keeping calm to win the ‘One Point Slam’, a friendly tournament that precedes the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year.
The confrontation pitted amateur players and celebrities against a select group of 24 professionals, including names like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, in a format in which whoever won the first point advanced to the stage.
Smith, who qualified as New South Wales state champion, overcame two-time Australian Open champion and second-ranked Sinner and world number four Amanda Anisimova, before beating Joanna Garland in the final.
Taiwanese Garland, number 117 in the women’s rankings, reached the final after defeating world number three Alexander Zverev, former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios and Maria Sakkari (52nd in the rankings).
“I don’t know what else to say. Coming here today, I was already happy to get a point. I was really nervous, but I enjoyed being here. It was an amazing experience,” said Smith, who plans to buy a house with the winnings.
The event, part of the tournament’s opening week in Melbourne, had a straight-elimination “rock, paper, scissors” format to determine who would serve or receive, with the point winner advancing to the next round.
Amateurs were entitled to two serves, but players ranked by the ATP (professional tennis players’ association) or WTA (professional tennis players’ association) could only serve once.
Greek Sakkari eliminated world number one Alcaraz after the Spaniard missed a short ball into the net.
“The ‘drop shot’ is my shot, I don’t know what happened,” said a perplexed Alcaraz.
The six-time Grand Slam champion, Swiatek, was eliminated by Spaniard Pedro Martinez (ranked 71st), who drew gasps from the audience at Rod Laver Arena when he surprised world number 10, Alexander Bublik, with an underhand serve.
“I gave him a taste of his own medicine,” Martinez said of Bublik, known for his phenomenal touch and penchant for power shots.
The Australian Open takes place from January 18th to February 1st at Melbourne Park.
