If you were sleeping off a Tuesday night slump and missed the action, you're basically looking at a tennis landscape that just got flipped on its head. Most people are focused on the main draws starting this weekend, but honestly, the real drama happened in the qualifying rounds and the smaller warm-up tournaments last night.
Who won the tennis last night isn't a simple one-name answer because we saw a mix of veteran grit, teenage takeovers, and a literal amateur winning a million dollars.
The Million Dollar Amateur in Melbourne
Okay, let's talk about the weirdest result first. While the pros were sweating through qualifying, the Australian Open held its "1 Point Slam" exhibition at Rod Laver Arena. You’d expect Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz to sleepwalk through a one-point format, right? Wrong.
Jordan Smith, an amateur from the Castle Hill Tennis Club in New South Wales, actually walked away with 1 million Australian dollars. He beat Joanna Garland in the final after she had already knocked out heavyweights like Alexander Zverev and Nick Kyrgios. It was chaotic. Imagine being a club player and taking home a check that big while the world number one watches from the sidelines.
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Venus Williams and the Oldest Match in WTA History
Down in Hobart, history was made in a way that makes your joints ache just thinking about it. Venus Williams, now 45 and still out there grinding, faced off against 38-year-old Tatjana Maria. This was officially the "oldest" match in terms of combined age—84 years—since the WTA was founded back in 1973.
Maria took the win 6-4, 6-3. It wasn't the result Venus fans wanted, especially with her 22nd Australian Open main draw appearance looming next week. But honestly, the level of tennis was surprisingly high given the swirling winds. Maria’s slice is still a nightmare to deal with, and she used it to keep Venus off-balance all night.
Australian Open Qualifying: The Next Gen is Arriving
If you follow the ATP "Next Gen" scene, last night was basically a coronation for a few names you'll be hearing for the next decade. Alexander Blockx and Rafael Jodar are making everyone else look like they’re playing in slow motion.
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- Alexander Blockx (the 20-year-old Belgian) crushed Alex Molcan 6-1, 6-1. He hasn't dropped a set yet.
- Rafael Jodar brushed past Chris Rodesch.
- Dino Prizmic—the guy who gave Djokovic a scare last year—took down Gustavo Heide 7-5, 6-2.
It’s getting crowded at the top. These guys are one win away from the main draw now. On the flip side, local favorite Cruz Hewitt (son of Lleyton) couldn't find the magic, falling to Michael Zheng in straight sets. It’s a tough lesson for the teenager, but the Melbourne crowd was loud enough to make you think he’d won the whole thing.
Upsets and Shocks in Auckland and Adelaide
The ASB Classic in Auckland saw some serious seeds tumble. Fabian Marozsan is quickly becoming the guy nobody wants to see on their side of the bracket after he dispatched Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4. Ruud looked a bit sluggish, maybe still finding his feet in the New Zealand humidity.
In Adelaide, Aleksandar Vukic pulled off a massive upset against Stefanos Tsitsipas. It went to two tiebreakers, and Vukic just refused to blink. 7-6, 7-6. If you’re betting on the Australian Open, keep an eye on Vukic. He’s playing with house money right now and the confidence is clearly surging.
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Why These Results Matter for Next Week
We often ignore the week before a Grand Slam, but this is where the momentum is built. Seeing someone like Sloane Stephens snap a losing streak—which she did last night against Olivia Gadecki in a three-set grind—is huge for her mental state heading into Melbourne.
The courts are playing fast this year. You can tell by how many matches are being decided by the serve and the first volley. If you aren't dialed in from the first point, you're heading to the airport.
Actionable Insights for Tennis Fans:
- Watch the Qualifiers: Keep an eye on Alexander Blockx in the main draw; his form suggests he could be this year's "bracket buster."
- Surface Speed: Notice the high percentage of tiebreak wins in Adelaide and Auckland. The balls are flying, so prioritize big servers in your fantasy lineups.
- Venus Watch: Don't write off Venus for the AO just yet. Despite the Hobart loss, her movement in the first set was the best we've seen in twelve months.
- Follow the Amateurs: If the 1 Point Slam happens again, pay attention to the locals. They know these courts better than the touring pros.
The transition from these warm-ups to the high-pressure environment of the Australian Open starts now. Players have exactly three days to fix their serve or find their rhythm before the real points—and the real history—begin.