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Recreational competitors will have the possibility to earn A$1m when they take on tennis' top professionals - headed by top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown before January's Australian Open

Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pair 10 amateur players against elite athletes in a single-elimination format at Melbourne Park

This Innovative Event Will Work

Participants must play 'the decision-making game' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the following stage

The champion of the event will take home £490,000

Contextually, players who made it to the penultimate round of the primary tournaments in the 2025 Australian Open won over a million Australian dollars

Past Related Competitions

The US Open organized a redesigned, separate mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to participate, with the victors receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its first-ever single-point competition this year, but the prize fund was a smaller amount and it generated little publicity

The Russian player was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his run came to an end when he sent the sole serving chance granted into the mesh in his penultimate round

Tournament Details

Officials have not detailed exactly how the event will work, but it is anticipated to mirror a akin setup to this year's edition

The elite players will be allowed to have a single serve and the amateurs twice - as is the standard practice in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the pairings will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will take place in a night session instead of early afternoon

Participation Information

Any Australians - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with the national federation - can enter 'single-point competition' tournaments at their community centers

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every geographic division selected to participate in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which everyday players, aspiring competitors, celebrities and sport stars can compete in

It commences on the starting date and the pair of champions will advance to the following day's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and top-ranked athletes

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will receive the reward. Registrations will start imminently at clubs nationwide"

Competition planners stated there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal indicated "well-known figures" would be taking part