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Recreational competitors are being offered an opportunity to claim a seven-figure prize when they face elite players - featuring top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown before the year's first major

Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match everyday competitors against top-ranked players in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

How the Event Will Work

Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the next round

The winner of the event will earn £490,000

By comparison, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the main draw competitions in the last edition won substantial prize money

Earlier Related Competitions

The US Open organized a redesigned, independent combined gender tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving $1m

The year's first major held its debut single-point competition in the current season, but the prize fund was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the sole elite competitor competing, and his campaign came to an end when he put the sole serving chance allowed into the net in his quarter-final

Competition Details

Officials have not specified precisely how the event will function, but it is anticipated to mirror a similar format to the previous version

The professionals will be granted to make one service and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the norm in traditional tennis

While it is unclear how the pairings will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will be held in a evening slot instead of midday timing

Competitor Information

Any Australians - or international players who have registered with the national federation - can compete in 'quick-match event' events at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a selection process, with an everyday competitor from every geographic division chosen to participate in the 'final competition' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which amateurs, developing professionals, celebrities and athletic celebrities can participate in

It starts on the starting date and the two winners will advance to the midweek 'championship match' with the other eight amateurs and 10 professionals

"No matter your experience, the overall victor will walk away with the award. Applications will begin shortly at venues across the country"

Tournament officials stated there were "additional stars to be revealed shortly", while the event portal said "famous personalities" would be involved