Alcaraz Set to Compete Against Amateurs in $1 Million Winner-Takes-All Event

Amateur players will have an opportunity to claim one million Australian dollars when they compete against elite players - including world number one the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle prior to the Australian Grand Slam

Event planners of the Australian Open have unveiled the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pair a dozen non-professionals against elite athletes in a single-elimination format at Melbourne Park

This Innovative Event Will Work

Players will play 'the classic hand game' to establish who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will progress to the subsequent phase

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

For comparison, players who reached the final four of the main draw competitions in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars

Past Related Competitions

The New York major organized a restructured, standalone mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which motivated top singles players to take part, with the victors receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its first-ever single-point competition in the current season, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention

Andrey Rublev was the sole elite competitor competing, and his campaign came to an end when he directed the single service opportunity granted into the net in his penultimate round

Competition Specifics

Planners have not detailed exactly how the event will work, but it is projected to mirror a comparable structure to the previous version

The top competitors will be permitted to make one service and the non-professionals twice - as is the norm in standard play

While it is uncertain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing

Competitor Requirements

Local players - or overseas competitors who have signed up with the governing body - can compete in 'single-point competition' competitions at their community centers

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with a single non-professional from every state and territory selected to compete in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a entry tournament in December which amateurs, aspiring competitors, famous personalities and sports personalities can compete in

It begins on the starting date and the pair of champions will go into the midweek 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the ultimate winner will walk away with the reward. Registrations will open soon at venues throughout the nation"

Tournament officials stated there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the official website said "celebrities" would be involved