🔗 Share this article

Amateur players are being offered an opportunity to win A$1m when they compete against elite players - including top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point before the year's first major

Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at the tournament grounds

The Unique Competition Operates

Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to decide who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the following stage

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

For comparison, players who reached the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m

Past Related Competitions

The US Open organized a revamped, independent mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving one million US dollars

The Australian Open held its debut single-point competition earlier this year, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the only top-10 player involved, and his progress concluded when he sent the sole serving chance permitted failing to clear the net in his last eight match

Event Specifics

Officials have not said exactly how the event will work, but it is anticipated to emulate a similar format to this year's edition

The elite players will be granted to serve once and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the norm in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain how the bracket will work, there will be several competitive phases and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will take place in a evening slot instead of early afternoon

Entry Details

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have registered with the governing body - can participate in 'single-point competition' events at their community centers

The winners of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with a single non-professional from every geographic division chosen to take part in the 'grand finale' in a nighttime event on the specified date

There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which non-professionals, lower ranked pros, celebrities and athletic celebrities can compete in

It starts on early January and the pair of champions will qualify for Wednesday's 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the ultimate winner will receive the prize. Entries will begin shortly at clubs nationwide"

Competition planners mentioned there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the official website mentioned "well-known figures" would be participating