🔗 Share this article

Recreational competitors are getting the chance to win A$1m when they compete against tennis' top professionals - headed by top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown prior to the year's first major

Organizers of the Melbourne major have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pair a dozen non-professionals against elite athletes in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will progress to the following stage

The champion of the event will earn a significant cash prize

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

Past Comparable Tournaments

The US Open organized a revamped, independent mixed doubles tournament in August which prompted top singles players to compete, with the champions receiving $1m

The Australian Open held its inaugural One Point Slam in the current season, but the total purse was A$60,000 and it generated little publicity

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor competing, and his progress concluded when he put the single service opportunity permitted into the mesh in his penultimate round

Event Details

Officials have not detailed exactly how the event will work, but it is expected to follow a similar format to the most recent iteration

The top competitors will be permitted to have a single serve and the amateurs twice - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the draw will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the primary court rather than the alternative court

The final stages will occur in a night session instead of 1pm local time

Competitor Information

Any Australians - or international players who have registered with the national federation - can compete in 'quick-match event' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The winners of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with a single non-professional from every state and territory chosen to compete in the 'grand finale' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

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

It starts on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will go into Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the final champion will claim the prize. Entries will start imminently at venues nationwide"

Tournament officials mentioned there were "more big names to be announced soon", while the official website said "famous personalities" would be participating