With the Australian Open main draw still a day away, Tennis Australia’s revamped “1 Point Slam” has already set the tone. The bold, fast-fire exhibition pits top players and fans in single-point showdowns. Yet the event produced an unexpected twist.

Iga Swiatek stunned onlookers with a surprise result against Flavio Cobolli and Frances Tiafoe, before ultimately falling short during Melbourne’s build-up.

Swiatek served to start the rally. Cobolli managed the return, but only briefly. From the very first ball, Swiatek unleashed powerful baseline shots. Cobolli struggled to control the pace and eventually sent the ball into his own net, ending the point.

The reaction was instant. Cameras caught the crowd erupting in excitement. Swiatek herself looked stunned by what had just happened. Alexander Zverev and Alexander Bublik were seen smiling and applauding from the sidelines, clearly enjoying the unexpected moment.

Swiatek continued her run in the event with a matchup against Frances Tiafoe. The atmosphere remained light and playful. Swiatek was seen laughing during the exchange. She handled the pressure well and advanced, securing a place in the quarterfinals of the one-point competition.

Her journey ended against World No. 71, Pedro Martínez. In that decisive moment, Swiatek struck the ball out of the court at the Spaniard’s end. The miss proved costly. She was eliminated from the tournament after a couple of rallies decided the outcome.

The 1 Point Slam is a fast-paced knockout event. A total of 48 competitors took part in Melbourne Park on Wednesday. The field included 24 top professional players. Eight amateur winners from state championship rounds held across Australia in 2025 also earned spots, along with eight players who qualified in Melbourne.

Another eight wildcards completed the draw. These included celebrities and invited personalities. Every match consisted of just one point. A game of rock, paper, scissors determined who served. The winner of each point advanced to the next round.

The final was played at the 14,800-capacity Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday. World number one Aryna Sabalenka and defending champion Madison Keys did not participate. However, five of the top ten women’s players featured, including Amanda Anisimova.

Celebrities added further flair. Taiwanese popstar Jay Chou took part, as did Australian comedian Adam Hills. Jannik Sinner’s coach, Simone Vagnozzi also tried to qualify. The final was contested between Sydney pro Joanna Garland and amateur Jordan Smith, with the Aussie winning A$1 million ($6,68,234).

And perhaps, Swiatek’s one-point loss was enough to get all the losses out of her system as the biggest challenge awaits.

Iga Swiatek’s bid for a Career Slam

Iga Swiatek enters Melbourne Park with the immense weight of expectations on her shoulders. With just one title standing between her and a Career Slam, the Australian Open is arguably her most important tournament of the year. But unsurprisingly, Swiatek isn’t letting that pressure get to her.

The start of her 2026 season has been a bit of a mixed bag. Though she helped captain Poland to their first United Cup victory in the past week after 2 consecutive finals losses, Swiatek ended the final with a loss to Belinda Bencic whom she previously held a 5-1 head-to-head record over. Adding to that was a loss against Coco Gauff in the semis.

The uncharacteristic stumbles even lead to injury questions, though the Pole was quick to shut them down. “Everything is fine. Just super sore. I guess first tournament of the year, it costs the body a bit differently than during the season. But I had similar experience last year also,” the 24-year-old explained.

Top Stories

Ben Shelton Apologizes After Fiery Smash Nearly Injures Opponent in Auckland

Novak Djokovic Raises Concern for Australian Open After Just 12 Minutes of Painful Practice

Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys Call Out Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Over “Disrespectful” Comments on Tennis Icon

2x Grand Slam Champion’s Son Dumped Out of Australian Open Before Major Tournament Starts

Casper Ruud Confirms He Might Leave Australian Open In Between Because of Family Emergency

Still, Swiatek is focusing on improvement rather than immediate results in Melbourne Park. “For now I’m not setting results goals. I am focusing on developing technically and in terms of my tennis game itself,” she told a Polish news outlet.

Nonetheless, it’s only a matter of time before the media storm surrounding her kicks up in full frenzy. Recent losses aside, Iga Swiatek enters the Australian Open as one of the favorites. Will this finally be her moment? Only time will tell.