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Recreational competitors will have the possibility to claim one million Australian dollars when they face tennis' top professionals - featuring leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle leading up to January's Australian Open

Organizers of the Melbourne major have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at Melbourne Park

This Innovative Event Will Work

Competitors are set to play 'the decision-making game' to establish who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will move forward to the following stage

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

For comparison, players who advanced to the semi-finals of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won substantial prize money

Past Similar Events

The US Open organized a redesigned, standalone mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to compete, with the victors receiving a million-dollar prize

The Melbourne tournament held its debut quick-fire event this year, but the prize fund was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it generated little publicity

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor participating, and his progress came to an end when he sent the single service opportunity permitted into the net in his last eight match

Event Information

Planners have not said exactly how the event will work, but it is anticipated to follow a comparable structure to the previous version

The top competitors will be allowed to have a single serve and the amateurs twice - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis

While it is unclear how the bracket will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the site will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will occur in a night session instead of midday timing

Competitor Details

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have enrolled with the governing body - can compete in 'single-point competition' tournaments at their community centers

The victors of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every region and area chosen to participate in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on the specified date

There will also be a entry tournament in December which everyday players, developing professionals, celebrities and athletic celebrities can participate in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will qualify for the midweek 'championship match' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the ultimate winner will claim the award. Entries will start imminently at facilities nationwide"

Event organizers said there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the official website indicated "celebrities" would be participating