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Everyday tennis enthusiasts will have an opportunity to win A$1m when they face tennis' top professionals - including leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown leading up to the year's first major

Organizers of the Melbourne major have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match a dozen non-professionals against elite athletes in a single-elimination format at the tournament grounds

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to decide who takes the serve or return position, and the player who wins the point will progress to the next round

The champion of the event will earn approximately half a million pounds

Contextually, players who reached the penultimate round of the primary tournaments in the 2025 Australian Open won substantial prize money

Past Related Competitions

The American Grand Slam staged a restructured, standalone mixed doubles tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to compete, with the winners receiving $1m

The year's first major held its inaugural single-point competition this year, but the total purse was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the sole elite competitor participating, and his run finished when he sent the one and only serve allowed failing to clear the net in his quarter-final

Competition Specifics

Officials have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is expected to follow a similar format to the previous version

The elite players will be allowed to make one service and the amateurs on two occasions - as is the norm in standard play

While it is not certain how the pairings will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the primary court rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will take place in a evening slot instead of early afternoon

Entry Details

Local players - or foreign participants who have registered with Tennis Australia - can enter 'One Point Slam' events at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the community events will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every state and territory picked to take part in the 'grand finale' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which non-professionals, lower ranked pros, famous personalities and sports personalities can enter

It commences on the starting date and the two winners will go into Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will claim the reward. Entries will start imminently at facilities throughout the nation"

Event organizers mentioned there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the tournament site mentioned "celebrities" would be involved