It only took a few hours for Joanna Garland to become a breakout story at the Australian Open.
The world number 117, born in England and playing under the flag of Chinese Taipei, made headlines by knocking out several big names on her way to the final of the tournament’s One Point Slam.
Along the way, she picked up wins over Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios and Donna Vekic. But in the final, she was beaten by amateur Jordan Smith. The New State champion put together an unexpected run to take home the $1 million prize.
Australian Open one point slam winner Jordan Smith shares reaction
Smith’s victory stands out even more when you consider the level of competition he was up against. He shared the draw with Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Coco Gauff – all top names in the sport.
After the final on Wednesday, Smith was still taking it all in. The 22-year-old from New South Wales admitted he never expected to find himself in that position.
He said: “I can’t even speak, that’s unbelievable,” adding that he will use the money to “invest or buy a house.”
The Australian player, who defeated Sinner and Amanda Anisimova on his way to the title, added: “I don’t know anymore. Coming into tonight, I was just happy with winning one point; so nervous. “But I’ve enjoyed being out here; it was a great experience. So thanks, everyone.”
Joanna Garland’s open reflection
Garland was able to stand tall, even if she didn’t win the final. Along the way, she picked up wins against several much higher-ranked opponents, including Donna Vekic.
After beating Vekic, Garland had a light-hearted moment about how she entered the event. She admitted: “I didn’t actually tell anyone I was in the event tonight, so I just hope they’ve tuned in on TV.”
While Garland may have missed out on the grand prize, her performance was full of positives. The event showcased her ability to compete under pressure and perform well despite high stakes.
This brings an end to her Australian Open run after losing 7-5 6-2 in qualifying to Anhelina Kalinina on Monday. Even without advancing further, Garland showed she belongs at this level and will take plenty from how she handled herself throughout the week.
- READ MORE: Taylor Fritz picks up another setback after playing Jannik Sinner ahead of the Australian Open
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
