Amateur stuns Sinner and pros to win One Point Slam

Tennis Australia hits the jackpot as new concept draws full house and makes coach Jordan Smith a millionaire

- Jack Snape

A 29-year-old tennis coach from Sydney won the inaugural One Point Slam at the Australian Open and its A$im (£500k) prize yesterday, after upstaging a field that included Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff.

Itis Tennis Australia, however, which won the jackpot, after the new concept - despite its near three-hour duration, often confusing format and awkward exchanges between players - attracted a full house to Rod Laver Arena during opening week as organisers look at nontraditional ways to attract fans to Melbourne Park.

It was a knockout tournament with a difference, one in which each tie was determined by a single point. To assist the amateurs, the professionals in the field were given only asingle serve. And to decide the server, agame of rock-paper-scissors was held before each point.

The victory of the amateur Jordan Smith, a former US college player witha career-high ATP rank of 1,141 who now works at his family’s tennis academy, cut through much of the promotional spin. His family and girlfriend, who politely asked for half the prize money midway through the evening, gave the proceedings a human touch and imbued them with jeopardy.