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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered the possibility to win one million Australian dollars when they compete against world-class athletes - headed by leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to the year's first major

Tournament officials of the year's first Grand Slam have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals in a single-elimination format at the tournament grounds

The Unique Competition Operates

Participants must play 'the decision-making game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will progress to the following stage

The winner of the event will earn £490,000

For comparison, players who reached the final four of the main draw competitions in the previous year's tournament won over a million Australian dollars

Previous Related Competitions

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

The year's first major held its inaugural quick-fire event earlier this year, but the cash prize was A$60,000 and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete participating, and his campaign concluded when he put the one and only serve granted failing to clear the net in his quarter-final

Competition Specifics

Organizers have not detailed exactly how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to emulate a comparable structure to the most recent iteration

The elite players will be granted to have a single serve and the everyday players two times - as is the norm in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain how the pairings will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the venue will be the primary court rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will occur in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing

Entry Information

Any Australians - or overseas competitors who have signed up with Tennis Australia - can enter 'One Point Slam' events at their local tennis clubs

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a random pairing, with a single non-professional from every geographic division chosen to participate in the 'final competition' in a night session on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in the final month which amateurs, aspiring competitors, celebrities and sport stars can enter

It commences on early January and the two winners will go into the following day's 'championship match' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the final champion will walk away with the prize. Registrations will open soon at facilities nationwide"

Tournament officials said there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the official website indicated "celebrities" would be involved