🔗 Share this article

Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered an opportunity to win a seven-figure prize when they take on elite players - featuring leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle before the year's first major

Tournament officials of the Melbourne major have unveiled the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match everyday competitors against top-ranked players in a single-elimination format at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Event Will Work

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who takes the serve or return position, and the competitor securing the point will move forward to the next round

The champion of the event will receive a significant cash prize

By comparison, players who made it to the penultimate round of the main draw competitions in the last edition won A$1.1m

Past Related Competitions

The US Open organized a restructured, independent mixed doubles tournament in August which encouraged top singles players to participate, with the winners receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its first-ever quick-fire event earlier this year, but the cash prize was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete participating, and his run came to an end when he sent the single service opportunity granted into the mesh in his last eight match

Tournament Information

Officials have not detailed exactly how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to follow a similar format to the most recent iteration

The elite players will be granted to serve once and the everyday players twice - as is the usual procedure in standard play

While it is not certain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the venue will be the primary court rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will take place in a night session instead of midday timing

Entry Details

Domestic competitors - or international players who have enrolled with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'single-point competition' events at their local tennis clubs

The victors of the community events will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every region and area selected to participate in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which amateurs, lower ranked pros, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can compete in

It starts on early January and the pair of champions will go into the following day's 'championship match' with the other eight amateurs and 10 professionals

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will receive the prize. Entries will open soon at clubs nationwide"

Competition planners said there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the official website said "famous personalities" would be taking part