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Recreational competitors are getting an opportunity to claim one million Australian dollars when they compete against tennis' top professionals - featuring leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point before January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Melbourne major have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match 10 amateur players against top-ranked players in a single-elimination format at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Tournament Functions

Competitors are set to play 'the classic hand game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will progress to the next round

The victor of the event will earn approximately half a million pounds

Contextually, players who advanced to the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the last edition won substantial prize money

Previous Comparable Tournaments

The US Open organized a restructured, separate mixed doubles tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to take part, with the victors receiving one million US dollars

The Melbourne tournament held its debut quick-fire event in the current season, but the cash prize was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it received minimal attention

The Russian player was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his run came to an end when he put the sole serving chance granted failing to clear the net in his quarter-final

Tournament Information

Planners have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is projected to follow a akin setup to the previous version

The elite players will be allowed to serve once and the amateurs twice - as is the standard practice in standard play

While it is not certain how the draw will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the venue will be the main stadium rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The last matches will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Entry Requirements

Domestic competitors - or international players who have registered with the national federation - can participate in 'One Point Slam' competitions at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every geographic division chosen to compete in the 'final competition' in a night session on the specified date

There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which non-professionals, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and sport stars can participate in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will go into the midweek 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and top-ranked athletes

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will claim the prize. Entries will begin shortly at clubs across the country"

Tournament officials said there were "additional stars to be announced soon", while the tournament site said "celebrities" would be taking part