Alcaraz Set to Compete Against Non-Professionals in Seven-Figure Winner-Takes-All Event

Recreational competitors are being offered an opportunity to earn a seven-figure prize when they face world-class athletes - including world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle before January's Australian Open

Organizers of the Australian Open have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pair 10 amateur players against 22 professionals in a single-elimination format at the tournament grounds

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'the decision-making game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the subsequent phase

The victor of the event will receive £490,000

Contextually, players who reached the final four of the main draw competitions in the previous year's tournament won substantial prize money

Previous Related Competitions

The American Grand Slam hosted a restructured, standalone mixed doubles tournament in August which motivated top singles players to compete, with the victors receiving $1m

The year's first major held its debut single-point competition earlier this year, but the cash prize was A$60,000 and it generated little publicity

Andrey Rublev was the only top-10 player competing, and his run finished when he sent the one and only serve permitted into the mesh in his quarter-final

Competition Specifics

Organizers have not detailed exactly how the event will operate, but it is expected to mirror a akin setup to the previous version

The professionals will be allowed to make one service and the everyday players twice - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis

While it is uncertain how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the primary court rather than the secondary venue

The concluding rounds will take place in a night session instead of 1pm local time

Entry Information

Domestic competitors - or overseas competitors who have signed up with Tennis Australia - can enter 'One Point Slam' events at their community centers

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a selection process, with one amateur player from every geographic division selected to take part in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which amateurs, developing professionals, celebrities and sports personalities can enter

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the two winners will qualify for the following day's 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and 10 professionals

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the overall victor will receive the award. Applications will start imminently at facilities throughout the nation"

Tournament officials mentioned there were "additional stars to be announced soon", while the tournament site mentioned "well-known figures" would be participating