Overview
- The Melbourne showcase at Rod Laver Arena concluded on 14 January as a promotional curtain-raiser to the main tournament.
- Smith, a 29-year-old New South Wales champion who has never played professionally, beat Joanna Garland in the final after earlier eliminating world No. 2 Jannik Sinner, Amanda Anisimova and Pedro Martínez Portero.
- The 48-player mixed field featured 24 professionals, eight qualifiers, eight invited personalities and eight Australian state champions.
- Notable results included Carlos Alcaraz losing to Maria Sakkari, Cori Gauff falling to Donna Vekic, and Nick Kyrgios being ousted by Garland.
- Matches were decided by a single point with serve determined by rock-paper-scissors, professionals limited to one serve and amateurs allowed two.