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Everyday tennis enthusiasts will have the possibility to claim A$1m when they compete against world-class athletes - featuring top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle prior to January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Australian Open have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match 10 amateur players against top-ranked players in a elimination competition at Melbourne Park

The Unique Event Will Work

Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will progress to the following stage

The winner of the event will earn approximately half a million pounds

Contextually, players who advanced to the semi-finals of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won substantial prize money

Past Related Competitions

The New York major staged a restructured, standalone combined gender tournament in the eighth month which prompted top singles players to participate, with the victors receiving a million-dollar prize

The year's first major held its first-ever One Point Slam this year, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it generated little publicity

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor participating, and his progress came to an end when he directed the one and only serve permitted failing to clear the net in his penultimate round

Event Information

Officials have not said exactly how the event will work, but it is expected to follow a akin setup to the previous version

The top competitors will be granted to have a single serve and the amateurs on two occasions - as is the norm in standard play

While it is unclear how the draw will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the primary court rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The concluding rounds will occur in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing

Participation Details

Local players - or international players who have enrolled with the national federation - can participate in 'quick-match event' events at their local tennis clubs

The victors of the local competitions will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every geographic division chosen to participate in the 'final competition' in a night session on the specified date

There will also be a qualifying draw in the final month which amateurs, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can compete in

It starts on the starting date and the two winners will go into the midweek 'championship match' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the overall victor will receive the award. Entries will start imminently at venues across the country"

Event organizers stated there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal said "famous personalities" would be taking part