Australian Open organisers have announced that the '1 Point Slam', the wildly popular exhibition event that crowned an unlikely millionaire in January, will return before the 2027 tournament begins. The announcement was confirmed on Wednesday, with the format staying largely the same: winner-takes-all matches decided by a single point, open to amateurs, professionals and celebrities alike.
The prize pool remains a headline draw in its own right. Organisers confirmed the event would again be offering a top prize of a million Australian dollars, worth roughly $705,000 at current exchange rates, according to ESPN. The final is scheduled to take place before the main draw begins on 17 January at Melbourne Park.
A coach's fairytale run
The format's appeal became clear this January, when Jordan Smith, a little-known Sydney tennis coach competing as an amateur, won the inaugural edition by beating some of the sport's biggest names, including Jannik Sinner, on his way to the title. Smith clinched the win when Joanna Garland, the world number 117 from Taiwan, sent a two-handed backhand wide on what proved the decisive point of the final.
The 2026 field also included Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and other leading professionals, alongside celebrities such as Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou, who was eliminated without hitting a ball after conceding an ace. For a European audience more accustomed to the buttoned-up rituals of Wimbledon or Roland Garros, the format's mix of showmanship and genuine sporting jeopardy has been a notable departure from tennis tradition.
“"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 in an Australian Open statement.”
Life after the win, and a path for others
Smith's victory turned him into an overnight sensation in Australia. Speaking to CNN Sport in the weeks following his win, he described a whirlwind of public attention, saying it had been "crazy" as strangers asked for photos and autographs. The 29-year-old, who runs the family Castle Hill Tennis Academy in Sydney, walked away with AUD $1 million, equivalent to roughly $670,000 at the time.
Rather than stepping back from the spotlight, Smith is now looking to widen the pathway that created his own opportunity. "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," he added in the same Australian Open statement.
From next week, affiliated clubs, coaching associations and partner schools across Australia will be able to register interest in hosting a 1 Point Slam qualifying event, part of a wider grassroots push to feed amateur players into the Melbourne Park final ahead of the 2027 Grand Slam. For international observers used to more conventional exhibition formats, such as the Laver Cup or various tour-level charity matches, the 1 Point Slam's blend of lottery-like drama and genuine career-changing stakes has offered something distinctly different on the tennis calendar.
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