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Everyday tennis enthusiasts will have the chance to win a seven-figure prize when they face world-class athletes - including world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown before January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Melbourne major have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match a dozen non-professionals against top-ranked players in a knockout tournament at the tournament grounds

How the Competition Operates

Competitors are set to play 'the decision-making game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will progress to the following stage

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

For comparison, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the last edition won A$1.1m

Previous Similar Events

The American Grand Slam hosted a revamped, standalone combined gender tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The Australian Open held its first-ever One Point Slam in the current season, but the cash prize was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it had limited exposure

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor participating, and his run concluded when he sent the one and only serve granted failing to clear the net in his last eight match

Tournament Information

Organizers have not said exactly how the event will work, but it is anticipated to follow a similar format to the previous version

The professionals will be allowed to make one service and the amateurs two times - as is the norm in standard play

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

The final stages will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing

Entry Information

Local players - or foreign participants who have enrolled with the governing body - can compete in 'One Point Slam' competitions at their neighborhood facilities

The victors of the local competitions will then go into a selection process, with a single non-professional from every state and territory chosen to compete in the 'championship round' in a night session on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in December which non-professionals, aspiring competitors, celebrities and athletic celebrities can participate in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will qualify for the midweek 'championship match' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes

"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will claim the reward. Entries will begin shortly at venues throughout the nation"

Competition planners stated there were "additional stars to be revealed shortly", while the event portal mentioned "famous personalities" would be participating