Andy Roddick says the Australian Open hit a ‘home run’ before the tournament even started

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The Australian Open main draw is just a few days away…

But there has already been plenty of action for fans to enjoy down under…

Jannik Sinner beat Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Carlos Alcaraz defeated Alex de Minaur in exhibition matches on Rod Laver Arena.

The Australian Open is the best Grand Slam… discuss!

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And, amateur Jordan Smith won the One Point Slam, earning himself $1 million.

Tennis legend Andy Roddick particularly enjoyed watching the One Point Slam, claiming the event was a big win for the tournament.

Andy Roddick says the One Point Slam was a ‘home run’

During the latest episode of ‘Served with Andy Roddick‘, the American shared his thoughts on the One Point Slam.

“That was awesome,” said Roddick.

“Jordan Smith, props.

“What a win! Easy entertainment, not a big ask of the players, you can put in celebrities. The star power doesn’t have to just come from the top players.

“You get those vignettes, they’re telling stories like someone who is going to sing their a– off or suck on [American] idol.

“There were so many cool factors about it. It was just relatable. How do you make [Carlos] Alcaraz in the stadium court relatable? Well, you put your chucker friends up there against him to play a point.

“I thought it was a win, a home run. It was great.”

Roddick was pleased to see the Australian Open follow the US Open’s lead by making the most of the week before the Grand Slam starts.

“You see the trade-off with these weeks before, obviously, the US Open went the route of the mixed doubles, which I was for,” he said.

“Creating interest in this week before is a win for the players, it raises their profiles, they don’t have to do anything, but they’re on TV all night, they get to show a nice version of themselves, laughing, joking.

“It felt like All-Star weekend.

“It’s not often you look over, and you see [Alexander] Zverev cutting it up with someone who won their club tournament.

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“I don’t see why they can’t rinse and repeat this idea.

“Seems more easily repeatable than maybe the mixed.”

Roddick was then asked how he would approach the event if he were to compete.

What Andy Roddick told Kim Clijsters about One Point Slam tactics

“I was talking to Kim [Clijsters] about it on a text yesterday,” he said.

“I was like, you would be fine, because she can strike the ball straight out of a nap.

“No problem, wake up, go, hit the centre of the racket.

“I’d be going full push chipper, just to the middle of the court.

“I’d be betting on someone else’s chokey-choke, that’s what I’d be doing, I’d be shoving.”

He then shared whether he would choose to serve or return.

“Depends, depends on who I’m playing,” said Roddick.

“For how big I served, I didn’t double fault hardly at all. I could go big.

“Getting up cold and hitting a serve… I get more nervous trying to make a serve in these exhibitions than I ever thought about playing a match.”

Perhaps Roddick will have a chance to try those tactics out at a future edition of the One Point Slam…

How did the big names perform at the One Point Slam?

An amateur won the big $1 million prize, but how did the stars of men’s and women’s tennis perform?

Coco Gauff and Alexander Zverev were the two biggest names to lose their opening match before Australian Open favorites Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz were dumped out in the third round.

WTA stars Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek came closer to winning the title, but lost in the quarterfinals.

The biggest name in the semifinals was former Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic, who lost to the impressive Joanna Garland.

Garland then fell to Smith in the final, as the Aussie won himself $1 million.

Only time will tell who will compete in the 2027 One Point Slam, but it will certainly be worth tuning in for.