Who Is Jordan Smith, The Aussie Amateur Who Beat Jannik Sinner To Win One-Point Slam At AO2026?

Last Updated:January 15, 2026, 10:30 IST

Jordan Smith, a Sydney amateur and New South Wales champion, won A$1 million at the Australian Open’s One Point Slam, defeating Jannik Sinner, Amanda Anisimova, and Joanna Garland.

Local amateur Jordan Smith walked away from the Australian Open with a million dollars and countless memories (AFP)

Pending tax advice, tennis coach Jordan Smith is Australia’s newest millionaire.

The 29-year-old Sydney amateur stunned the tennis world on Wednesday night, cashing in A$1 million after beating elite professionals in the Australian Open’s wild One Point Slam — a winner-takes-all shootout decided by a single rally.

By Thursday morning at Melbourne Park, Smith had gone from anonymity to global spotlight, swarmed by media, fans and players, juggling international interviews, selfies, autographs and promotional appearances.

Smith — a New South Wales state champion — toppled two-time Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner, world No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, and then edged Joanna Garland in the final. Garland had earlier torn through Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios and Maria Sakkari in a dream run of her own.

“I was just hoping to win one point," Smith said. “I was so nervous. Now I’m buying a house."

The knockout event, part of the Australian Open’s expanded opening week, paired amateurs and celebrities against 24 top professionals. Matches were decided on one point, with serve determined by rock, paper, scissors. Amateurs were allowed two serves; ATP and WTA players got just one.

The format delivered chaos. Carlos Alcaraz crashed out after netting a dropshot. Iga Swiatek was eliminated by Pedro Martinez, who stunned crowd-favourite Alexander Bublik with an audacious underarm serve.

Away from the spotlight, Smith’s life is far more ordinary.

He regularly works 50-hour weeks at his parents’ tennis academy in Castle Hill, once chasing a pro career of his own. Around Sydney’s Hills District courts, he’s long been known as the “smiling assassin" — a nickname handed to him by a year seven teacher.

Now, one point later, the coach is richer by A$1 million — and tennis folklore has a new fairy tale.

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