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Amateur players will have the possibility to win one million Australian dollars when they take on elite players - featuring top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown leading up to January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Australian Open have announced the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit a dozen non-professionals against elite athletes in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue

This Innovative Event Will Work

Players will play 'the decision-making game' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and the player who wins the point will progress to the subsequent phase

The winner of the event will take home 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 substantial prize money

Past Related Competitions

The New York major staged a redesigned, standalone mixed doubles tournament in August which motivated top singles players to compete, with the champions receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its inaugural quick-fire event in the current season, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it generated little publicity

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor participating, and his progress came to an end when he put the one and only serve allowed into the mesh in his quarter-final

Tournament Details

Planners have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is projected to follow a similar format to this year's edition

The elite players will be granted to have a single serve and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis

While it is uncertain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the primary court rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will be held in a night session instead of early afternoon

Entry Requirements

Domestic competitors - or international players who have signed up with the national federation - can compete in 'One Point Slam' competitions at their neighborhood facilities

The winners of the community events will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every region and area picked to take part in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on the specified date

There will also be a qualifying draw in the final month which amateurs, aspiring competitors, celebrities and sport stars can compete in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will go into the midweek 'final showdown' with the remaining non-professionals and 10 professionals

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the overall victor will receive the prize. Registrations will begin shortly at facilities across the country"

Tournament officials stated there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the official website said "celebrities" would be participating