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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are getting the possibility to claim one million Australian dollars when they compete against elite players - featuring top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to the year's first major

Event planners of the Australian Open have announced the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue

This Innovative Event Will Work

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will progress to the next round

The victor of the event will earn £490,000

By comparison, players who made it to the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won over a million Australian dollars

Earlier Similar Events

The New York major organized a revamped, standalone mixed doubles tournament in August which motivated top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The Melbourne tournament held its first-ever One Point Slam in the current season, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the only top-10 player competing, and his run came to an end when he put the single service opportunity allowed into the mesh in his penultimate round

Event Specifics

Planners have not specified precisely how the event will operate, but it is projected to emulate a comparable structure to this year's edition

The top competitors will be permitted to make one service and the everyday players two times - as is the norm in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the primary court rather than the secondary venue

The concluding rounds will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing

Entry Requirements

Local players - or overseas competitors who have signed up with the national federation - can compete in 'single-point competition' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a random pairing, with a single non-professional from every state and territory chosen to compete in the 'championship round' in a evening match on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in December which everyday players, aspiring competitors, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can participate in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will qualify for the midweek 'grand finale' with the additional everyday players and 10 professionals

"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will receive the award. Applications will start imminently at facilities across the country"

Tournament officials mentioned there were "more big names to be announced soon", while the event portal mentioned "well-known figures" would be taking part