🔗 Share this article

Everyday tennis enthusiasts are getting an opportunity to claim A$1m when they take on elite players - including world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point before January's Australian Open

Tournament officials of the Australian Open have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pair a dozen non-professionals against top-ranked players in a knockout tournament at the tournament grounds

The Unique Event Will Work

Participants must play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the following stage

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

By comparison, players who advanced to the final four of the primary tournaments in the last edition won substantial prize money

Past Similar Events

The American Grand Slam organized a redesigned, separate combined gender tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its first-ever One Point Slam this year, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure

The Russian player was the only top-10 player competing, and his campaign finished when he directed the one and only serve granted failing to clear the net in his penultimate round

Event Details

Planners have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is expected to emulate a akin setup to the previous version

The elite players will be allowed to serve once and the amateurs two times - as is the norm in traditional tennis

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

The last matches will take place in a night session instead of early afternoon

Participation Details

Domestic competitors - or overseas competitors who have signed up with the governing body - can participate in 'quick-match event' tournaments at their local tennis clubs

The victors of the community events will then go into a draw, with a single non-professional from every region and area chosen to participate in the 'championship round' in a evening match on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which non-professionals, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and sport stars can compete in

It begins on early January and the pair of champions will go into the midweek 'final showdown' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the ultimate winner will claim the award. Entries will open soon at facilities across the country"

Competition planners stated there were "additional stars to be announced soon", while the tournament site said "well-known figures" would be involved