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Everyday tennis enthusiasts will have the possibility to win A$1m when they compete against elite players - headed by world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown prior to January's Australian Open

Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pit 10 amateur players against elite athletes in a single-elimination format at Melbourne Park

The Unique Competition Operates

Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the following stage

The victor of the event will earn a significant cash prize

By comparison, players who made it to the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won over a million Australian dollars

Earlier Related Competitions

The American Grand Slam hosted a restructured, standalone mixed doubles tournament in August which motivated top singles players to compete, with the champions receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its first-ever single-point competition this year, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it generated little publicity

One top competitor was the only top-10 player participating, and his progress finished when he put the one and only serve permitted into the mesh in his last eight match

Event Details

Officials have not said exactly how the event will function, but it is projected to emulate a similar format to the previous version

The top competitors will be allowed to serve once and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis

While it is uncertain how the pairings will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The last matches will occur in a night session instead of midday timing

Entry Requirements

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have registered with Tennis Australia - can compete in 'One Point Slam' events at their neighborhood facilities

The victors of the community events will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every region and area chosen to compete in the 'final competition' in a evening match on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in the final month which non-professionals, developing professionals, famous personalities and sport stars can compete in

It starts on early January and the pair of champions will go into the following day's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will receive the award. Registrations will start imminently at venues nationwide"

Tournament officials said there were "more big names to be announced soon", while the tournament site indicated "famous personalities" would be involved