🔗 Share this article

Recreational competitors will have an opportunity to win one million Australian dollars when they compete against tennis' top professionals - headed by top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle prior to the Australian Grand Slam

Tournament officials of the Melbourne major have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit a dozen non-professionals against top-ranked players in a elimination competition at the tournament grounds

The Unique Tournament Functions

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to decide who takes the serve or return position, and the player who wins the point will progress to the following stage

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

Contextually, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars

Earlier Comparable Tournaments

The New York major hosted a restructured, separate mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving one million US dollars

The Melbourne tournament held its debut quick-fire event in the current season, but the prize fund was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it received minimal attention

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor participating, and his campaign finished when he directed the single service opportunity allowed into the mesh in his penultimate round

Competition Specifics

Officials have not detailed exactly how the event will function, but it is anticipated to emulate a comparable structure to the previous version

The elite players will be granted to serve once and the amateurs twice - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is unclear how the draw will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The concluding rounds will be held in a evening slot instead of midday timing

Participation Requirements

Any Australians - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with the governing body - can compete in 'quick-match event' events at their local tennis clubs

The victors of the local competitions will then go into a selection process, with an everyday competitor from every region and area chosen to compete in the 'championship round' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which amateurs, aspiring competitors, famous personalities and sports personalities can participate in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the two winners will go into the midweek 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and top-ranked athletes

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the final champion will receive the award. Applications will start imminently at venues throughout the nation"

Tournament officials said there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the tournament site mentioned "well-known figures" would be participating