Amateur stuns world's best to win A$1m in Melbourne

Amateur Jordan Smith is the shock winner of the Million Dollar One Point Slam at the Australian Open, beating reigning men's champion Jannik Sinner along the way.

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295 CommentsUpdated 2 hours agoAmateur player Jordan Smith would have been "happy winning just one point" - but walked away with A$1m (£496,835) and bragging rights over world number two Jannik Sinner as he triumphed at the Australian Open's Million Dollar One Point Slam.

The innovative format offered amateur players the opportunity to win the prize money by playing a sole point against some of the sport's top talent and other famous faces.

Smith was the star of the show on Rod Laver Arena, also defeating women's world number four Amanda Anisimova in front of almost 15,000 people.

Smith faced women's world number 117 Joanna Garland in a fitting finale, after the Taiwanese 24-year-old stunned men's world number three Alexander Zverev and former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios.

New South Wales state champion Smith was not the only amateur to seize his moment in the spotlight, with Queensland state champion Alec Reverente beating men's world number seven Felix Auger-Aliassime.

As the two best performing amateurs, Smith and Reverente also went head-to-head to win a brand new car, with Reverente triumphing.

The tournament was played in good spirits - even a racquet smash by Kyrgios following his defeat was performed with humour - and generated genuine intrigue.

Many of the beaten players, including men's number one Carlos Alcaraz, remained at Rod Laver Arena and gathered around televisions to watch the conclusion between the two unlikely finalists.

Published7 hours agoUpsets, shocks and entertainment at Melbourne ParkThe opening match set the tone for the evening when tennis coach Andres Schneiter knocked out men's world number 34 Corentin Moutet.

The upsets kept on coming across the quick-fire format as fellow players offered enthusiastic support from the side of the court and the crowd rallied behind the underdogs.

British-born Garland, who was beaten in the first round of singles qualifying in Melbourne, appeared more stunned than anyone as she beat former women's world number three Maria Sakkari and 2024 Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic.

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Some of the sport's top-ranked players watched as their rivals and friends took to the court

Smith, meanwhile, did not need to hit a ball against Sinner after the men's world number two failed to land his serve - with professionals only granted one opportunity to get it right.

He was not done there, following up victory over Anisimova by beating 71st-ranked Spaniard Pedro Martinez to set up his shot at the prize money.

"Coming into tonight I would have been

Source: BBC

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