The amateur Jordan Smith won the “One Point Slam” tournament in Melbourne, an exhibition event that precedes the Australian Open with 64 players at the start, pros and amateurs, in single-point challenges. Also on the field were the big names in world tennis: number 1 Carlos Alcaraz and number 2 Jannik Sinner, but also many other champions, old glories and simple amateurs.
Between laughter, great shots and unlikely attempts, the tournament thrilled the audience in the stands. The Spanish Alcaraz was eliminated in the round of 16 by the Greek Maria Sakkari, while Sinner surrendered, with a wrong serve, to Jordan Smith, the winner of the tournament.
After blocking the way for the South Tyrolean, the Australian eliminated WTA number 4 Amanda Anisimova, before facing and beating the Spaniard Pedro Martinez, world number 71, in the semi-final. In the final she faces Joanna Garland, Taiwanese number 122 in the world, who was also beaten. Jordan Smith, an amateur from New South Wales, therefore wins the title and with him one million Australian dollars (around 570 thousand euros). «I have no words – Smith’s immediate comment reported by Supertennis – I will try to invest that money because my desire is to buy a house. I was happy after the first victory, but this is truly an incredible experience!