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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered the chance to earn one million Australian dollars when they take on world-class athletes - including leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to January's Australian Open

Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match 10 amateur players against top-ranked players in a knockout tournament at Melbourne Park

How the Event Will Work

Competitors are set to play 'the classic hand game' to decide who serves or receives, and the player who wins the point will progress to the following stage

The victor of the event will receive a significant cash prize

By comparison, players who made it to the penultimate round of the main draw competitions in the last edition won A$1.1m

Past Similar Events

The US Open staged a revamped, independent mixed doubles tournament in August which prompted top singles players to compete, with the winners receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its inaugural single-point competition this year, but the cash prize was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure

Andrey Rublev was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his progress came to an end when he directed the single service opportunity granted into the net in his quarter-final

Tournament Specifics

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

The professionals will be permitted to serve once and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the norm in standard play

While it is uncertain how the bracket will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the site will be the primary court rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will be held in a evening slot instead of midday timing

Participation Details

Any Australians - or international players who have signed up with the governing body - can participate in 'quick-match event' competitions at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a selection process, with a single non-professional from every state and territory chosen to participate in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which non-professionals, aspiring competitors, famous personalities and sports personalities can enter

It begins on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will go into the following day's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and top-ranked athletes

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the final champion will claim the award. Entries will open soon at facilities throughout the nation"

Tournament officials stated there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the official website said "famous personalities" would be taking part