Carlos Alcaraz Set to Compete Against Non-Professionals in Seven-Figure One Point Slam

Everyday tennis enthusiasts will have an opportunity to earn A$1m when they face tennis' top professionals - including top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle prior to January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Australian Open have unveiled the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pit 10 amateur players against 22 professionals in a single-elimination format at Melbourne Park

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will advance to the next round

The champion of the event will earn approximately half a million pounds

For comparison, players who made it to the final four of the primary tournaments in the last edition won A$1.1m

Earlier Similar Events

The US Open hosted a restructured, separate combined gender tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to compete, with the victors receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its debut quick-fire event this year, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete participating, and his campaign finished when he sent the one and only serve granted failing to clear the net in his quarter-final

Event Details

Planners have not specified precisely how the event will function, but it is anticipated to mirror a akin setup to the previous version

The elite players will be permitted to have a single serve and the non-professionals twice - as is the standard practice in conventional tennis

While it is unclear how the pairings will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the site will be the primary court rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The last matches will be held in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Competitor Details

Domestic competitors - or international players who have signed up with the governing body - can compete in 'quick-match event' tournaments at their community centers

The victors of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every state and territory selected to take part in the 'championship round' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a entry tournament in December which everyday players, developing professionals, famous personalities and sport stars can compete in

It begins on early January and the successful competitors will qualify for the following day's 'grand finale' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will claim the award. Registrations will start imminently at venues nationwide"

Competition planners said there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the official website said "well-known figures" would be taking part