Overview
- New South Wales amateur Jordan Smith defeated defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner en route to beating Joanna Garland in the final to claim the winner‑takes‑all A$1 million prize.
- All matches were decided by a single point, with amateurs receiving two serves and current ATP/WTA professionals limited to one under the event’s handicap rules.
- The 48‑player draw featured 24 tour pros, 24 amateurs and celebrity wildcards, and 16 seeded professionals who received first‑round byes.
- High‑profile exits underscored the pressure: Sinner and Coco Gauff netted serves, Maria Sakkari ousted Carlos Alcaraz, and Iga Swiatek fell to Pedro Martinez.
- Staged before the Australian Open in a sell‑out Rod Laver Arena, the expanded showcase jumped from a A$60,000 purse in 2025 and was promoted by Tennis Australia as a grassroots‑to‑Grand‑Slam experience.