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Amateur players will have the possibility to earn one million Australian dollars when they compete against world-class athletes - including leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point before the year's first major

Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Event Will Work

Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to determine who serves or receives, and the player who wins the point will progress to the next round

The victor of the event will receive a significant cash prize

Contextually, players who advanced to the final four of the main draw competitions in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars

Past Similar Events

The US Open hosted a redesigned, independent combined gender tournament in August which encouraged top singles players to compete, with the victors receiving one million US dollars

The Melbourne tournament held its inaugural single-point competition earlier this year, but the cash prize was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the only top-10 player participating, and his run concluded when he directed the single service opportunity allowed failing to clear the net in his quarter-final

Tournament Details

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

The top competitors will be allowed to serve once and the non-professionals two times - as is the norm in conventional tennis

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

The concluding rounds will occur in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Participation Details

Any Australians - or overseas competitors who have signed up with the governing body - can compete in 'single-point competition' competitions at their community centers

The winners of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every state and territory selected to take part in the 'championship round' in a evening match on the specified date

There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which non-professionals, aspiring competitors, famous personalities and sport stars can enter

It begins on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will go into the following day's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and 10 professionals

"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will claim the prize. Applications will start imminently at clubs nationwide"

Event organizers mentioned there were "further celebrities to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal indicated "famous personalities" would be involved