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Recreational competitors will have the possibility to claim one million Australian dollars when they take on world-class athletes - featuring top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle before the year's first major

Event planners of the Melbourne major have announced the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pair everyday competitors against elite athletes in a single-elimination format at Melbourne Park

This Innovative Competition Operates

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and the player who wins the point will advance to the subsequent phase

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

By comparison, players who reached the final four of the main draw competitions in the previous year's tournament won substantial prize money

Earlier Related Competitions

The US Open hosted a restructured, separate combined gender tournament in the eighth month which prompted top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving $1m

The Australian Open held its debut quick-fire event in the current season, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it generated little publicity

One top competitor was the only top-10 player competing, and his campaign concluded when he sent the one and only serve granted into the mesh in his last eight match

Competition Details

Planners have not detailed exactly how the event will function, but it is projected to mirror a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The elite players will be permitted to make one service and the everyday players two times - as is the usual procedure in standard play

While it is uncertain how the pairings will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

The final stages will take place in a night session instead of midday timing

Participation Information

Local players - or overseas competitors who have signed up with the governing body - can compete in 'One Point Slam' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every state and territory chosen to participate in the 'grand finale' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a preliminary competition in the final month which everyday players, aspiring competitors, celebrities and sport stars can compete in

It starts on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will qualify for Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes

"Regardless of your skill level, the ultimate winner will claim the prize. Registrations will open soon at venues across the country"

Event organizers stated there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the event portal said "celebrities" would be taking part