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Recreational competitors are being offered the possibility to win one million Australian dollars when they take on elite players - headed by world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown leading up to the Australian Grand Slam

Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pair 10 amateur players against elite athletes in a elimination competition at the tournament grounds

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'the decision-making game' to determine who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will move forward to the subsequent phase

The champion of the event will take home a significant cash prize

By comparison, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the last edition won A$1.1m

Earlier Similar Events

The American Grand Slam organized a redesigned, independent mixed doubles tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving a million-dollar prize

The year's first major held its inaugural One Point Slam earlier this year, but the total purse was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the only top-10 player participating, and his campaign concluded when he put the single service opportunity granted failing to clear the net in his penultimate round

Competition Information

Officials have not specified precisely how the event will function, but it is projected to emulate a similar format to the most recent iteration

The elite players will be granted to make one service and the amateurs on two occasions - as is the standard practice in standard play

While it is unclear how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the site will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Competitor Details

Local players - or foreign participants who have registered with the governing body - can compete in 'single-point competition' competitions at their local tennis clubs

The victors of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a selection process, with one amateur player from every region and area selected to take part in the 'final competition' in a evening match on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in late year which everyday players, aspiring competitors, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can compete in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will advance to Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the additional everyday players and 10 professionals

"No matter your experience, the ultimate winner will claim the reward. Applications will start imminently at facilities throughout the nation"

Competition planners stated there were "additional stars to be revealed shortly", while the tournament site mentioned "famous personalities" would be taking part