Alcaraz Ready to Battle Everyday Players in Million Dollar Winner-Takes-All Event

Everyday tennis enthusiasts will have an opportunity to claim A$1m when they take on tennis' top professionals - including world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle before the Australian Grand Slam

Tournament officials of the Melbourne major have unveiled the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pit a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at the tournament grounds

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will progress to the subsequent phase

The champion of the event will earn £490,000

By comparison, players who made it to the semi-finals of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m

Past Comparable Tournaments

The American Grand Slam hosted a restructured, standalone mixed doubles tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving $1m

The year's first major held its inaugural single-point competition in the current season, but the prize fund was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it generated little publicity

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor competing, and his campaign finished when he directed the single service opportunity allowed failing to clear the net in his last eight match

Competition Details

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

The elite players will be permitted to serve once and the amateurs on two occasions - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis

While it is uncertain how the draw will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will be held in a evening slot instead of early afternoon

Participation Information

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have registered with Tennis Australia - can enter 'One Point Slam' competitions at their local tennis clubs

The winners of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every state and territory selected to compete in the 'championship round' in a night session on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in December which everyday players, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and sports personalities can compete in

It begins on early January and the two winners will qualify for the following day's 'championship match' with the remaining non-professionals and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will claim the prize. Applications will open soon at clubs across the country"

Tournament officials said there were "additional stars to be revealed shortly", while the event portal indicated "celebrities" would be taking part