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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are getting an opportunity to claim A$1m when they compete against elite players - featuring world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point before the Australian Grand Slam

Tournament officials of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match a dozen non-professionals against elite athletes in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to decide who serves or receives, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the following stage

The winner of the event will earn a significant cash prize

By comparison, players who reached the final four of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m

Previous Comparable Tournaments

The American Grand Slam organized a redesigned, independent mixed doubles tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to compete, with the winners receiving a million-dollar prize

The year's first major held its first-ever single-point competition in the current season, but the cash prize was A$60,000 and it generated little publicity

Andrey Rublev was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his run finished when he put the single service opportunity allowed failing to clear the net in his last eight match

Event Details

Organizers have not detailed exactly how the event will function, but it is expected to mirror a similar format to the previous version

The top competitors will be granted to have a single serve and the non-professionals two times - as is the norm in standard play

While it is unclear how the draw will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The last matches will occur in a night session instead of early afternoon

Participation Requirements

Any Australians - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with the national federation - can compete in 'quick-match event' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The champions of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every geographic division selected to participate in the 'grand finale' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a entry tournament in December which non-professionals, lower ranked pros, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can participate in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will advance to the following day's 'final showdown' with the remaining non-professionals and 10 professionals

"No matter your experience, the final champion will walk away with the reward. Registrations will begin shortly at clubs throughout the nation"

Event organizers mentioned there were "additional stars to be announced soon", while the tournament site mentioned "well-known figures" would be involved