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Amateur players are being offered the chance to earn A$1m when they face elite players - including leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown prior to the Australian Grand Slam

Tournament officials of the year's first Grand Slam have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pair a dozen non-professionals against elite athletes in a single-elimination format at the tournament grounds

This Innovative Competition Operates

Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and whoever wins the point will progress to the next round

The victor of the event will take home approximately half a million pounds

By comparison, players who made it to the final four of the men's or women's singles in the last edition won A$1.1m

Earlier Comparable Tournaments

The American Grand Slam organized a restructured, standalone combined gender tournament in August which prompted top singles players to compete, with the champions receiving a million-dollar prize

The year's first major held its inaugural quick-fire event this year, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete involved, and his run concluded when he directed the single service opportunity allowed into the mesh in his last eight match

Tournament Specifics

Officials have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to follow a akin setup to the previous version

The top competitors will be permitted to make one service and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the standard practice in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the draw will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the main stadium rather than the alternative court

The last matches will be held in a evening slot instead of 1pm local time

Entry Information

Any Australians - or foreign participants who have enrolled with the governing body - can enter 'One Point Slam' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The winners of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every state and territory picked to take part in the 'grand finale' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which everyday players, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and sports personalities can compete in

It commences on the starting date and the pair of champions will go into Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"No matter your experience, the final champion will walk away with the prize. Applications will start imminently at clubs throughout the nation"

Tournament officials mentioned there were "more big names to be announced soon", while the tournament site mentioned "well-known figures" would be involved