Carlos Alcaraz to Face Non-Professionals in $1 Million One Point Slam

Recreational competitors are being offered the possibility to earn A$1m when they take on elite players - featuring top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown before January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Melbourne major have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at Melbourne Park

How the Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will move forward to the next round

The victor of the event will earn a significant cash prize

By comparison, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won over a million Australian dollars

Past Comparable Tournaments

The American Grand Slam hosted a redesigned, independent combined gender tournament in the eighth month which motivated top singles players to take part, with the victors receiving one million US dollars

The Australian Open held its first-ever quick-fire event in the current season, but the prize fund was a smaller amount and it generated little publicity

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete involved, and his progress concluded when he directed the single service opportunity allowed into the mesh in his penultimate round

Competition Details

Planners have not specified precisely how the event will function, but it is projected to mirror a akin setup to this year's edition

The top competitors 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 draw will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the main stadium rather than the alternative court

The final stages will be held in a evening slot instead of 1pm local time

Competitor Details

Local players - or foreign participants who have enrolled with Tennis Australia - can compete in 'One Point Slam' events at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every state and territory chosen to compete in the 'championship round' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a qualifying draw in December which everyday players, aspiring competitors, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can compete in

It starts on the starting date and the two winners will go into Wednesday's 'final showdown' with the remaining non-professionals and elite competitors

"No matter your experience, the overall victor will receive the reward. Registrations will open soon at venues across the country"

Competition planners stated there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the official website mentioned "famous personalities" would be taking part