Australian Open Bringing Back Million-Dollar 1 Point Slam in 2027

What happened:

Watch the highlights:

Australian Open organizers announced Wednesday that the 1 Point Slam will return in 2027, according to Yahoo Sports. The event is scheduled to be held before the Jan. 17-31 Australian Open main draw at Melbourne Park and will again offer a top prize of one million Australian dollars, reported as about $705,000 at current exchange rates.

The format's appeal is built into its name: one point can change everything. The source says the event was a crowd favorite last January, when Jordan Smith, described as a little-known local amateur player, beat Jannik Sinner and went on to win the 1 Point Slam. That result gives the returning event its hook: elite tennis names can be pulled into a format where the usual match-length advantages shrink dramatically.

Why it matters:

This is not a main-draw title announcement, and it should not be treated like one. Its importance is different. The 1 Point Slam functions as a high-variance showcase attached to the Australian Open ecosystem, giving Melbourne Park a made-for-attention event before the serious two-week tournament begins.

For fans, the consequence is clear: the Australian Open is leaning into a format that creates instant stakes before the Grand Slam draw starts. A million Australian dollars for one point is a simple proposition, and last year's Jordan Smith story showed why it works. The underdog possibility is not theoretical; the source specifically notes that a local amateur beat Jannik Sinner and became a millionaire in Australian dollars.

Tournament impact:

The main Australian Open remains the core competition from Jan. 17-31, but the 1 Point Slam adds a separate pressure point to the build-up. It can bring attention to Melbourne Park earlier, give local players or less famous names a sharper spotlight, and create a quick-hit storyline before best-of-five men's matches and full Grand Slam structures take over.

The important boundary is that this is a promotional or standalone event around the tournament, not a change to the Grand Slam format itself. The source confirms the return and the prize, but it does not outline the full field, entry process, bracket structure, or broadcast details.

What to watch:

The next details that matter are who gets invited, how many players enter, and whether top-ranked players again take part. The Jordan Smith precedent will be central to the event's 2027 framing, but the confirmed announcement is simply that the million-dollar format is coming back before the Australian Open main draw.

Confidence:

Confirmed by the source: the 1 Point Slam is returning in 2027 before the Australian Open main draw at Melbourne Park, with a top prize of one million Australian dollars. Also confirmed: Jordan Smith won the previous edition after beating Jannik Sinner. Still needing follow-up: participant list, exact event date, format mechanics, and qualification details.