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Amateur players will have the chance to win one million Australian dollars when they take on world-class athletes - including top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point prior to the Australian Grand Slam

Event planners of the Australian Open have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pit everyday competitors against elite athletes in a elimination competition at the tournament grounds

This Innovative Competition Operates

Participants must play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the subsequent phase

The champion of the event will receive £490,000

For comparison, players who made it to the semi-finals of the main draw competitions in the last edition won substantial prize money

Earlier Related Competitions

The US Open hosted a revamped, separate mixed doubles tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving $1m

The Australian Open held its debut single-point competition earlier this year, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure

Andrey Rublev was the sole elite competitor involved, and his run concluded when he directed the one and only serve permitted into the mesh in his quarter-final

Competition Information

Officials have not said exactly how the event will work, but it is projected to emulate a similar format to this year's edition

The top competitors will be granted to have a single serve and the everyday players two times - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain 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 final stages will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing

Participation Requirements

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have registered with the national federation - can participate in 'quick-match event' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The winners of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every geographic division selected to take part in the 'final competition' in a evening match on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a entry tournament in December which non-professionals, aspiring competitors, famous personalities and sport stars can participate in

It starts on early January and the successful competitors will advance to the midweek 'final showdown' with the additional everyday players and top-ranked athletes

"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will receive the award. Registrations will open soon at clubs across the country"

Competition planners mentioned there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal said "well-known figures" would be participating