Everyday tennis enthusiasts are getting an opportunity to earn a seven-figure prize when they compete against world-class athletes - headed by world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown before the Australian Grand Slam
Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have unveiled the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pit 10 amateur players against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue
This Innovative Event Will Work
Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will advance to the following stage
The victor of the event will take home approximately half a million pounds
By comparison, players who made it to the final four of the men's or women's singles in the last edition won A$1.1m
Earlier Comparable Tournaments
The American Grand Slam organized a restructured, independent combined gender tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to participate, with the winners receiving one million US dollars
The Australian Open held its first-ever single-point competition 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 campaign came to an end when he sent the one and only serve granted into the net in his quarter-final
Event Details
Planners have not detailed exactly how the event will work, but it is expected to follow a similar format to the previous version
The top competitors will be granted to make one service and the non-professionals two times - as is the norm in conventional tennis
While it is unclear how the draw will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the site will be the main stadium rather than the alternative court
The concluding rounds will be held in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing
Participation Information
Any Australians - or foreign participants who have registered with Tennis Australia - can compete in 'single-point competition' competitions at their local tennis clubs
The victors of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with an everyday competitor from every region and area selected to compete in the 'championship round' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January
There will also be a entry tournament in late year which amateurs, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can enter
It commences on early January and the pair of champions will qualify for the following day's 'final showdown' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors
"No matter your experience, the ultimate winner will claim the prize. Registrations will begin shortly at venues across the country"
Competition planners stated there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the tournament site indicated "well-known figures" would be taking part
