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Recreational competitors are getting the chance to earn A$1m when they face world-class athletes - headed by leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point before January's Australian Open

Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals 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 whoever wins the point will move forward to the next round

The victor of the event will take home £490,000

By comparison, players who reached the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m

Earlier Related Competitions

The US Open staged a restructured, independent combined gender tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to compete, with the victors receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its inaugural single-point competition this year, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the only top-10 player involved, and his campaign concluded when he put the single service opportunity granted into the net in his quarter-final

Competition Specifics

Organizers have not detailed exactly how the event will function, but it is projected to mirror a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The top competitors will be granted to make one service and the non-professionals twice - as is the norm in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain how the pairings will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the location will be the primary court rather than the smaller Kia Arena

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

Participation Details

Local players - or international players who have registered with the governing body - can enter 'quick-match event' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The champions of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with a single non-professional from every region and area selected to take part in the 'championship round' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a preliminary competition in the final month which everyday players, developing professionals, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can compete in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will qualify for the following day's 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and 10 professionals

"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will claim the reward. Entries will open soon at clubs throughout the nation"

Event organizers mentioned there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal said "celebrities" would be involved