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Recreational competitors are being offered an opportunity to claim one million Australian dollars when they take on elite players - featuring top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown leading up to the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pair 10 amateur players against top-ranked players in a knockout tournament at the tournament grounds

How the Tournament Functions

Players will play 'the decision-making game' to establish who takes the serve or return position, and the player who wins the point will progress to the subsequent phase

The champion of the event will receive £490,000

By comparison, players who reached the semi-finals of the men's or women's singles in the 2025 Australian Open won over a million Australian dollars

Previous Similar Events

The US Open organized a restructured, independent combined gender tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The Melbourne tournament held its inaugural One Point Slam this year, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure

The Russian player was the only top-10 player participating, and his campaign finished when he sent the single service opportunity permitted failing to clear the net in his quarter-final

Event Information

Planners have not detailed exactly how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to emulate a comparable structure to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be allowed to serve once and the amateurs two times - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain how the draw will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the site will be the main stadium rather than the secondary venue

The final stages will occur in a evening slot instead of early afternoon

Participation Details

Local players - or overseas competitors who have registered with the governing body - can enter 'single-point competition' competitions at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every geographic division picked to take part in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which everyday players, aspiring competitors, famous personalities and sports personalities can compete in

It begins on early January and the two winners will qualify for the midweek 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will claim the award. Applications will begin shortly at venues across the country"

Event organizers stated there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the tournament site mentioned "celebrities" would be taking part