One Point Slam to return at 2027 Australian Open after resounding success of Melbourne debut - What is it and how does it work?
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Published 05/08/2026 at 10:59 GMT+1
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The One Point Slam is set to return to the Australian Open for 2027 after a successful debut earlier this year, with organisers of the curtain-raising Grand Slam confirming on Wednesday that the unique event will be staged once more to hand amateurs the chance to become millionaires.
Smashed racquets, huge upsets & A$1 million jackpot: The best moments of One Point Slam
Video credit: TNT Sports
Amateur tennis players will have the chance to emulate maiden winner Jordan Smith by claiming the top prize of $1 million Australian Dollars (around ÂŁ523,000).
Amateur Smith rose to unexpected fame when he stunned world No. 1 and multiple Grand Slam champion Jannik Sinner in the inaugural One Point Slam, before going on to beat women’s world No. 117 Joanna Garland in the final.
The 2027 Australian Open main draw takes place from January 17-31, with Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina looking to defend their singles titles. Â
The One Point Slam will be staged as a warm-up event before the main draw action begins.
With star names, big upsets and unlikely heroes guaranteed, it will be an unmissable event to kick off the first major of the new season.
What is the One Point Slam? How does it work?
The One Point Slam does exactly what it says on the tin; each match is decided by a single point.
A knockout bracket features both men and women, professionals and amateurs, with one rule introduced to help balance the odds: amateur players get two serves as usual, while the pros are only permitted one.
That worked to the detriment of several big names this year, as Sinner, Coco Gauff and Frances Tiafoe were among the players to be eliminated after faulting on serve.
Another quirk of the competition is the way that service is decided – through a game of rock, paper, scissors.
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Watch: Amateur’s dream run to One Point Slam glory and huge jackpot
Video credit: TNT Sports
Some of the biggest names in the sport participated in the inaugural addition, such as Sinner, Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka.
But it was amateur Smith who walked away with the top prize.
Amateurs can qualify through affiliated clubs, associations, coaches and partner schools across Australia.
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What happened in 2026?
Champion Smith came through qualifying in New South Wales before being crowned after a sensational run in which he beat Sinner and women’s world No. 4 Amanda Anisimova.
Despite the big names in the draw, it was not a star-studded final, as the runner-up was women’s world No. 117 Garland, who would have doubled her career prize money if she had won.
Smith’s run also saw him topple Sinner, Anisimova and Pedro Martinez, while British-born Garland beat Zverev, Kyrgios and Maria Sakkari.
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Amateur Smith stuns pro to become millionaire at One Point Slam
Video credit: TNT Sports
In the final, Garland opted to serve, but then missed with a backhand to hand Smith victory.
”My journey started at a qualifying event at Sydney Olympic Park — I never expected it would lead to me stepping onto Rod Laver Arena and competing against world-class players, let alone walking away as the winner. It completely changed my life,” Smith said.
”This year we’ll be hosting an event at our own club and hopefully inspiring more players to give it a go, just like I did. You never know where it might take you.”
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While Sinner was bested by Smith, Alcaraz – who would go on to win the men’s singles title – fell at the hands of Sakkari after a poorly-executed drop shot.
"The drop shot is my shot, I don’t know what happened," said Alcaraz. "It never disappoints me, not even in the toughest moments, but today it didn’t work."
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Alcaraz beaten by Sakkari at One Point Slam
Video credit: TNT Sports
Australian favourite Kyrgios suffered defeat to Garland by hitting a service return long, before jokingly smashing his racquet with a smile on his face.
Gauff exited with a fault against Donna Vekic before Tiafoe did the same against Swiatek, laughing: "That’s terrible, that’s horrible."
Gauff tweeted afterwards: "I feel better about missing my serve now that Jannik and Foe did. #NotAlone."
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