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Recreational competitors are getting the chance to earn one million Australian dollars when they take on elite players - including top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pair everyday competitors against elite athletes in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Tournament Functions

Players will play 'the classic hand game' to decide who takes the serve or return position, and the player who wins the point will move forward to the following stage

The victor of the event will earn a significant cash prize

Contextually, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m

Previous Comparable Tournaments

The American Grand Slam hosted a redesigned, separate combined gender tournament in August which encouraged top singles players to compete, with the winners receiving a million-dollar prize

The Melbourne tournament held its first-ever One Point Slam this year, but the cash prize was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it had limited exposure

Andrey Rublev was the only top-10 player participating, and his progress came to an end when he sent the single service opportunity allowed failing to clear the net in his penultimate round

Competition Specifics

Planners have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is expected to emulate a similar format to this year's edition

The top competitors will be permitted to make one service and the amateurs two times - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis

While it is not certain how the bracket will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will take place in a night session instead of 1pm local time

Entry Information

Domestic competitors - or international players who have registered with the national federation - can compete in 'quick-match event' competitions at their neighborhood facilities

The victors of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every state and territory chosen to compete in the 'final competition' in a night session on the specified date

There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which amateurs, aspiring competitors, celebrities and sports personalities can compete in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the two winners will advance to Wednesday's 'final showdown' with the remaining non-professionals and top-ranked athletes

"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will receive the prize. Entries will open soon at facilities throughout the nation"

Event organizers said there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the tournament site mentioned "celebrities" would be participating