{"id":654,"date":"2026-01-16T09:23:34","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T09:23:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/?p=654"},"modified":"2026-01-16T09:23:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T09:23:37","slug":"an-amateur-beat-jannik-sinner-and-won-670000-inside-the-one-point-slam-before-the-australian-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/an-amateur-beat-jannik-sinner-and-won-670000-inside-the-one-point-slam-before-the-australian-open\/","title":{"rendered":"An Amateur Beat Jannik Sinner and Won $670,000: Inside the One Point Slam Before the Australian Open"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Just days before the start of the Australian Open, tennis fans were treated to one of the most unusual and entertaining events of the season. The One Point Slam, a unique exhibition tournament decided by a single point per match, produced shock results, viral moments, and an incredible Cinderella story \u2014 an amateur defeating Jannik Sinner and walking away with a prize larger than most Australian Open payouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is the One Point Slam?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The One Point Slam is a pre\u2013Australian Open exhibition tournament that has now been held for the second consecutive year. Its concept is simple and intentionally chaotic: <strong>every match is decided by just one point<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The tournament brings together a mix of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Professional ATP and WTA players<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Amateur players who qualify through regional competitions (one champion from each Australian state)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Celebrities, including former professionals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Among past participants were Marat Safin and Nick Kyrgios, adding star power and entertainment value to the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the One Point Slam Format Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The rules are designed to maximize unpredictability:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Each match consists of <strong>a single point only<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The server is decided by <strong>rock\u2013paper\u2013scissors<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Professional players and former pros get <strong>one serve<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Amateurs and non-professional celebrities are allowed <strong>two serves<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The winner of the tournament receives <strong>AUD 1,000,000<\/strong> (approximately <strong>USD 670,000<\/strong>), a prize larger than what many players earn deep into the main draw of the Australian Open. To emphasize the spectacle, organizers even placed a transparent box of cash courtside \u2014 complete with bills printed with the face of Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why the One Point Slam Is So Entertaining<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The format creates instant drama. With everything decided by one rally, <strong>anything can happen<\/strong> \u2014 and it did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Jannik Sinner<\/strong> lost to amateur <strong>Jordan Smith<\/strong> after missing his serve into the net<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pedro Martinez<\/strong> eliminated <strong>Alexander Bublik<\/strong> using an underarm serve \u2014 Bublik\u2019s own signature move<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Carlos Alcaraz<\/strong> was knocked out by <strong>Maria Sakkari<\/strong> after his drop shot clipped the net<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Daniil Medvedev<\/strong> lost a long rally to <strong>Amanda Anisimova<\/strong>, who later joked she was just happy to keep more than five shots in play<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps the most stunning run came from world No.117 <strong>Joanna Garland<\/strong>, who defeated both <strong>Alexander Zverev<\/strong> and <strong>Nick Kyrgios<\/strong>. Garland later said that beating Kyrgios was the best win of her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Mental Pressure Was Real \u2014 Even for Top Players<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite being an exhibition, the psychological tension was obvious. After winning his first match, Sinner admitted his heart rate had climbed close to 200 beats per minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Players openly talked about nerves, even though the stakes were technically lower than a Grand Slam. In a one-point format, hesitation often proved fatal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Standout Moments and Viral Highlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Several moments stood out during the event:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Nick Kyrgios<\/strong> produced the shot of the tournament with a stunning passing winner that clipped the baseline \u2014 celebrating as if he had won a Grand Slam final<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The rally of the tournament came in <strong>Medvedev vs amateur Petar Jovic<\/strong>, a point Medvedev admitted he thought he had already lost<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The event opened with <strong>Corentin Moutet<\/strong> failing to return the serve of a coach working with Adolfo Vallejo<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The entertainment value was undeniable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the Format Reveals About Players<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the One Point Slam should not be treated as serious competition, it does highlight certain tendencies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Coco Gauff<\/strong> lost to Donna Veki\u0107 after placing her serve into the middle of the net \u2014 once again exposing ongoing serving issues<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Alexander Zverev<\/strong> was eliminated by Garland after becoming passive under pressure, a recurring pattern in high-stress moments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As Arthur Rinderknech, who lost to Anisimova, summed it up:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cRisk it or go home. I went home.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Veterans, Showmanship, and Personality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The tournament also delivered memorable personality moments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Marat Safin<\/strong> returned to the court, saying he is now calmer and less stressed, defeating an amateur before losing to <strong>Frances Tiafoe<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Carlos Alcaraz<\/strong> sprinted onto the court with the intensity of a Grand Slam final, showing his natural flair for performance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After losing to Garland, <strong>Nick Kyrgios<\/strong> smashed his racket \u2014 then handed it to a child in the crowd<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fairytale Ending: Jordan Smith\u2019s Incredible Win<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The final featured two amateurs: <strong>Jordan Smith<\/strong> and <strong>Joanna Garland<\/strong>. Garland lost the title after sending a backhand long, while Smith claimed the million-dollar prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only Australian Open semifinalists will earn more prize money than Smith during the main tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith said he plans to either invest the money or buy a house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While officially an amateur, Smith\u2019s background is impressive: he was a national junior champion in Australia, played college tennis in the United States on scholarship, once held a professional ranking (outside the top 700), and currently works as a professional coach within Tennis Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, his victory remains one of the most extraordinary pre\u2013Australian Open stories in recent memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Events Like the One Point Slam Matter Before the Australian Open<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the One Point Slam is primarily entertainment, it captures the spirit of tennis ahead of the season\u2019s first Grand Slam: pressure, unpredictability, and the fine margins that decide matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also serves as a reminder that in tennis \u2014 sometimes, <strong>one point really is everything<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more tennis news, analysis, and unique stories from the world of Grand Slam tournaments, visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/news-updates\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"165\">tennis news section<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Australian Open 2026 schedule is <a href=\"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/australian-open-schedule-results-2026-full-match-dates-order-of-play-and-latest-scores\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/australian-open-schedule-results-2026-full-match-dates-order-of-play-and-latest-scores\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Just days before the start of the Australian Open, tennis fans were treated to one of the most unusual and entertaining events of the season. The One Point Slam, a unique exhibition tournament decided by a single point per match, produced shock results, viral moments, and an incredible Cinderella story \u2014 an amateur defeating Jannik Sinner and walking away with a prize larger than most Australian Open payouts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":655,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other-tournaments"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=654"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":657,"href":"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654\/revisions\/657"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=654"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usopen-tennis.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}