Comedian Andy Lee is renowned for his quick wit – and the Channel 9 identity delivered a zinger on-court against tennis star Naomi Osaka at Melbourne Park on Wednesday night.
The pair faced off in the $1 million ‘One Point Slam’, and Lee attempted to get into Osaka’s head pre-match.
Despite having two Australian Open titles to her name, a playful Lee pointed out ‘he didn’t want to intimidate Naomi…but she has lost a lot more points out here (Rod Laver Arena) than I have.’
A visibly shocked Osaka responded with: ‘you know what, just get on the court, we’ll see what happens.’
World number 16 Osaka then had the last laugh, with a double fault from Lee handing her victory.
The banter was flowing before Sydney tennis battler Jordan Smith lived out a real-life David-versus-Goliath dream to win the $1 million ‘One Point Slam’.
Comedian Andy Lee is famed for his quick wit – and he delivered a zinger on-court against tennis star Naomi Osaka at Melbourne Park during the $1 million ‘One Point Slam’
Despite having two Australian Open titles to her name, a playful Lee pointed out ‘he didn’t want to intimidate Naomi…but she has lost a lot more points out here (Rod Laver Arena) than I have’
Smith claimed the prized scalps of two-time defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner and dual grand slam women’s finalist Amanda Anasimova en route to Tennis Australia’s all-or-nothing innovation.
The 29-year-old could not believe his good fortune when he then upset women’s world No.117 Joanna Garland in the final to upstage the game’s superstars and claim a life-changing million-dollar cheque.
‘I can’t even speak,’ Smith said with his mother, father and two brothers, who run the Castle Hill Tennis Academy, watching on in disbelief from the stands.
Asked what he would spend his winnings on, the humble champion said: ‘Invest or buy a house definitely with my girlfriend.’
The event was staged for only the second time after being introduced last year.
The 2025 prize pool was only $60,000, but a star-studded line-up this year played for a million bucks.
The format was simple enough, with 16 top-seeded pros – headed up by world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, second seed Sinner and women’s superstars Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Osaka all enjoying first-round byes before the competition morphed into a grand slam-style knockout from the last-32 stage onwards.
Each ‘match’ consisted of one single point.
Sydney tennis coach Jordan Smith lived out a real-life David-versus-Goliath dream to win the $1 million ‘One Point Slam’
Smith outlasted the likes of world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, second seed Jannik Sinner and women’s superstars such as Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff
Instead of a traditional coin toss, a game of ‘rock, paper, scissors’ decided who served or received.
Crucially, the 24 amateurs who qualified or were awarded wildcards were allowed two serves but any current ATP or WTA-ranked players only got one.
In an early indicator of the unpredictable nature of the contest, French world No.34 Corentin Moutet was the first player eliminated after misfiring his return against Argentinean touring coach Andres Schneitner.
Local drawcard Nick Kyrgios barely survived his opening ‘match’.
‘My heart is racing. Honestly, this feels like the finals of Wimbledon,’ Kyrgios said after his backhand passing shot caught the line to crush WA state champion Steve Yarwood’s dreams of a million-dollar run.
Kyrgios bowed out when he overcooked a backhand in his quarter-final with Garland.
As the biggest men’s stars perished under the pressure, six-time grand slam champion Swiatek struck the first blow for women’s tennis, bossing world No.22 Flavio Cobolli from the baseline to win the first ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match-up.
The big-hitting Anisimova then out-duelled three-time AO runner-up Daniil Medvedev, Frances Tiafoe lost his nerve and serve against Swiatek and Alcaraz succumbed to Sakkari as the men dropped like flies.
Local drawcard Nick Kyrgios was sent packing by eventual finalist and world No.117 Joanna Garland
Kyrgios will now turn his attention to the men’s doubles with his good mate Thanasi Kokkinakis
Sinner confessed to feeling the heat when he dumped a serve into the net to gift Smith a place in the quarter-finals.
‘I kind of called it so that’s how it happens,’ Sinner said, having elected to receive in his opening match.
‘You cannot imagine my heartbeat right now. It’s around 200, but I survived until now,’ the Italian world No.2 said after outlasting Carreno Busta in his anxious opener.
Queensland state champion qualifier Alec Reverente settled for a new car after beating Smith in the showdown of the two last standing amateurs.
But the night belonged, almost fittingly, to a battler named Smith.
‘It’s insane,’ he said before walking away with the spoils.
