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Everyday tennis enthusiasts will have an opportunity to win A$1m when they compete against tennis' top professionals - including leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown prior to the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pair 10 amateur players against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue

This Innovative Competition Operates

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will progress to the subsequent phase

The winner of the event will earn £490,000

For comparison, players who reached the penultimate round of the primary tournaments in the last edition won substantial prize money

Past Similar Events

The American Grand Slam organized a redesigned, separate combined gender tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its debut single-point competition this year, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it received minimal attention

The Russian player was the single high-ranked athlete involved, and his campaign finished when he sent the one and only serve granted failing to clear the net in his penultimate round

Event Information

Planners have not said exactly how the event will work, but it is anticipated to mirror a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be allowed to serve once and the non-professionals twice - as is the norm in traditional tennis

While it is unclear how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the secondary venue

The last matches will be held in a night session instead of early afternoon

Competitor Requirements

Domestic competitors - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'One Point Slam' events at their community centers

The victors of the community events will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every state and territory chosen to participate in the 'championship round' in a evening match on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a preliminary competition in December which amateurs, developing professionals, well-known figures and sports personalities can participate in

It begins on early January and the successful competitors will advance to the following day's 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"No matter your experience, the overall victor will receive the prize. Registrations will start imminently at facilities throughout the nation"

Tournament officials said there were "more big names to be revealed shortly", while the event portal mentioned "well-known figures" would be participating