Million-dollar 1 Point Slam set to return to Aussie Open

The million-dollar 1 Point Slam is returning to the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of 2027.

Australian Open organizers announced Wednesday that the crowd favorite from last January would again be offering a top prize of a million Australian dollars ($705,000) when it is held next year before the Jan 17-31 main draw at Melbourne Park.

Jordan Smith, a little-known local amateur player beat Jannik Sinner and went on to make himself a millionaire in Australian dollars after winning the 1 Point Slam.

The Australian won on the third stroke of the final, when Chinese Taipei's women's player Joanna Garland, then ranked No 117, sent a two-handed backhand wide.

All the matches lasted just one single point in a knockout bracket that included men and women, professionals and amateurs, as well as celebrities such as pop star Jay Chou, who was knocked out without hitting a ball after conceding an ace from Petar Jovic.

The competition also included Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Alexander Zverev and Naomi Osaka.

"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 Wednesday.

"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," Smith added.

From next week, affiliated clubs, associations, coaches and partner schools across Australia can register their interest to host a 1 Point Slam qualifying event in the lead-up to the Melbourne Park final.

Alcaraz out of Cincy event

World No 2 Alcaraz has withdrawn from the ATP Cincinnati Masters with the wrist injury that has sidelined him since April, organizers said Tuesday.

The Spaniard will not defend his title at the tournament, which starts on Aug 13, because of "an ongoing wrist injury".

"We know Carlos is doing everything he can to get back to playing tournaments as soon as possible," tournament director Bob Moran said in a statement.

"We wish him the best with his recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to Cincinnati in the future."

The move will spark concerns over Alcaraz's upcoming title defense at the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year, which starts on Aug 30 in New York.

The elite hard court tournament in Cincy is the last major tune-up for the US Open.

The 23-year-old Alcaraz has already opted out of the French Open and Wimbledon this year, as he recovers from the injury sustained in the first round of the Barcelona Open in April.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion pulled out of tournaments in Madrid and Rome, before withdrawing from Roland Garros in a move he said he and his team had decided was "the most prudent thing to do".

He then missed Wimbledon, where his rival Sinner prevailed for the second year in a row, this time against Germany's French Open winner Zverev.

In opting out of Wimbledon, Alcaraz said his recovery was going well, but that he was still not ready to play.

It marked the third Grand Slam that Alcaraz has missed since he made his main draw debut at the 2021 Australian Open.

He became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam in January with his triumph in Melbourne. He also won the ATP title in Doha, Qatar, in February.