🔗 Share this article

Amateur players are getting an opportunity to claim A$1m when they take on world-class athletes - featuring world number one the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown prior to the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the Melbourne major have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match everyday competitors against elite athletes in a knockout tournament at Melbourne Park

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the following stage

The victor of the event will receive a significant cash prize

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 over a million Australian dollars

Earlier Similar Events

The American Grand Slam organized a revamped, independent combined gender tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to participate, with the victors receiving one million US dollars

The Australian Open held its inaugural single-point competition this year, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure

Andrey Rublev was the only top-10 player involved, and his progress concluded when he directed the single service opportunity permitted failing to clear the net in his penultimate round

Competition Specifics

Planners have not specified precisely how the event will function, but it is projected to follow a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The top competitors will be permitted to have a single serve and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the standard practice in conventional 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 secondary venue

The concluding rounds will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of 1pm local time

Participation Information

Local players - or overseas competitors who have registered with the governing body - can compete in 'quick-match event' events at their local tennis clubs

The victors of the community events will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every state and territory picked to take part in the 'grand finale' in a evening match on mid-January

There will also be a preliminary competition in the final month which everyday players, aspiring competitors, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can participate in

It begins on the starting date and the successful competitors will advance to the midweek 'championship match' with the remaining non-professionals and 10 professionals

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will walk away with the reward. Registrations will start imminently at clubs throughout the nation"

Event organizers stated there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the official website mentioned "famous personalities" would be taking part