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Amateur players are getting the possibility to win one million Australian dollars when they take on tennis' top professionals - featuring world number one the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle leading up to the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the Melbourne major have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Event Will Work

Competitors are set to play 'the decision-making game' to establish who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will advance to the next round

The victor of the event will receive a significant cash prize

Contextually, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m

Past Comparable Tournaments

The American Grand Slam hosted a revamped, separate mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which motivated top singles players to participate, with the victors receiving $1m

The Australian Open held its debut One Point Slam earlier this year, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention

Andrey Rublev was the sole elite competitor participating, and his campaign concluded when he put the single service opportunity permitted into the mesh in his quarter-final

Event Specifics

Planners have not detailed exactly how the event will function, but it is anticipated to emulate a similar format to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be allowed to make one service and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is unclear how the bracket will work, there will be several competitive phases and the site will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will occur in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing

Participation Information

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have enrolled with the national federation - can participate in 'quick-match event' tournaments at their community centers

The victors of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with an everyday competitor from every geographic division chosen to compete in the 'championship round' in a night session on the specified date

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

It begins on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will go into the midweek 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes

"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will receive the reward. Applications will begin shortly at clubs across the country"

Event organizers mentioned there were "more big names to be revealed shortly", while the official website indicated "famous personalities" would be taking part