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Amateur players are getting the chance to claim one million Australian dollars when they compete against tennis' top professionals - including world number one the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown leading up to the year's first major

Organizers of the Australian Open have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pair 10 amateur players against top-ranked players in a single-elimination format at the tournament grounds

The Unique Competition Operates

Players will play 'the decision-making game' to decide who serves or receives, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the subsequent phase

The victor of the event will take home a significant cash prize

Contextually, players who reached the final four of the main draw competitions in the previous year's tournament won substantial prize money

Past Similar Events

The US Open organized a revamped, standalone mixed doubles tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The Melbourne tournament held its inaugural single-point competition earlier this year, but the prize fund was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it had limited exposure

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

Competition Specifics

Officials have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is projected to emulate a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be permitted to have a single serve and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the norm in traditional tennis

While it is uncertain how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the primary court rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will be held in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Entry Details

Domestic competitors - or international players who have signed up with Tennis Australia - can compete in 'quick-match event' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The victors of the local competitions will then go into a random pairing, with an everyday competitor from every region and area chosen to participate in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which amateurs, developing professionals, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can enter

It begins on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will advance to the midweek 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the final champion will walk away with the reward. Applications will start imminently at venues across the country"

Tournament officials mentioned there were "additional stars to be announced soon", while the official website indicated "famous personalities" would be involved