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Recreational competitors are getting an opportunity to claim one million Australian dollars when they take on elite players - featuring world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle before the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the Melbourne major have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at Melbourne Park

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who takes the serve or return position, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the following stage

The champion of the event will take home £490,000

By comparison, players who made it to the final four of the primary tournaments in the last edition won substantial prize money

Past Related Competitions

The New York major staged a restructured, standalone combined gender tournament in August which motivated top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving a million-dollar prize

The Melbourne tournament held its debut single-point competition in the current season, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor involved, and his run finished when he sent the sole serving chance permitted into the net in his last eight match

Tournament Specifics

Organizers have not detailed exactly how the event will function, but it is projected to follow a akin setup to the most recent iteration

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

While it is not certain how the draw 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 occur in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Participation Information

Domestic competitors - or international players who have enrolled with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'One Point Slam' tournaments at their community centers

The winners of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a selection process, with a single non-professional from every state and territory picked to take part in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on the specified date

There will also be a entry tournament in December which amateurs, aspiring competitors, celebrities and athletic celebrities can compete in

It begins on early January and the successful competitors will qualify for Wednesday's 'championship match' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the ultimate winner will receive the prize. Applications will start imminently at venues nationwide"

Competition planners stated there were "further celebrities to be unveiled imminently", while the official website indicated "well-known figures" would be involved