🔗 Share this article

Amateur players will have the chance to claim a seven-figure prize when they take on elite players - headed by top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to the year's first major

Event planners of the Melbourne major have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at the tournament grounds

How the Event Will Work

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to decide who takes the serve or return position, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the next round

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

Contextually, players who reached the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars

Past Comparable Tournaments

The US Open hosted a redesigned, separate mixed doubles tournament in August which prompted top singles players to take part, with the victors receiving one million US dollars

The Melbourne tournament held its first-ever One Point Slam this year, but the total purse was A$60,000 and it received minimal attention

The Russian player was the single high-ranked athlete participating, and his campaign concluded when he directed the sole serving chance allowed into the mesh in his last eight match

Competition Details

Officials have not detailed exactly how the event will work, but it is projected to mirror a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The top competitors will be permitted to make one service and the everyday players two times - as is the usual procedure in standard play

While it is unclear how the pairings will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the site will be the main stadium rather than the alternative court

The last matches will occur in a evening slot instead of midday timing

Participation Information

Any Australians - or overseas competitors who have registered with the governing body - can compete in 'quick-match event' competitions at their neighborhood facilities

The champions of the community events will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every geographic division selected to take part in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a entry tournament in late year which non-professionals, aspiring competitors, well-known figures and sport stars can enter

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will qualify for Wednesday's 'final showdown' with the remaining non-professionals and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the final champion will receive the reward. Applications will begin shortly at clubs throughout the nation"

Event organizers mentioned there were "additional stars to be revealed shortly", while the official website indicated "well-known figures" would be taking part