🔗 Share this article

Recreational competitors are getting the chance to earn a seven-figure prize when they face elite players - featuring leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point prior to January's Australian Open

Organizers of the Melbourne major have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match everyday competitors against top-ranked players in a single-elimination format at Melbourne Park

How the Competition Operates

Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who takes the serve or return position, and the competitor securing the point will move forward to the following stage

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

By comparison, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the primary tournaments in the last edition won substantial prize money

Past Similar Events

The US Open organized a redesigned, independent mixed doubles tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to participate, with the victors receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its inaugural single-point competition earlier this year, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure

Andrey Rublev was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his campaign finished when he directed the one and only serve permitted into the mesh in his quarter-final

Tournament Details

Organizers have not detailed exactly how the event will operate, but it is expected to emulate a comparable structure to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be permitted to have a single serve and the amateurs two times - as is the norm in traditional tennis

While it is not certain how the bracket will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The concluding rounds will be held in a night session instead of 1pm local time

Competitor Requirements

Any Australians - or overseas competitors who have registered with the national federation - can participate in 'One Point Slam' competitions at their community centers

The winners of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with a single non-professional from every state and territory chosen to take part in the 'grand finale' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a preliminary competition in the final month which non-professionals, developing professionals, celebrities and sport stars can compete in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will go into Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and 10 professionals

"No matter your experience, the overall victor will walk away with the award. Applications will begin shortly at clubs across the country"

Tournament officials stated there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the tournament site indicated "celebrities" would be taking part