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Recreational competitors will have the possibility to earn A$1m when they compete against world-class athletes - featuring leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point before the year's first major

Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pair a dozen non-professionals against elite athletes in a elimination competition at the tournament grounds

The Unique Competition Operates

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

The victor of the event will receive a significant cash prize

Contextually, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the last edition won substantial prize money

Past Similar Events

The US Open staged a redesigned, standalone combined gender tournament in August which prompted top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The Australian Open held its debut quick-fire event this year, but the prize fund was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it received minimal attention

Andrey Rublev was the sole elite competitor competing, and his run concluded when he directed the single service opportunity permitted into the net in his penultimate round

Event Information

Planners have not said exactly how the event will function, but it is anticipated to emulate a similar format to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be allowed to have a single serve and the everyday players twice - as is the norm in traditional tennis

While it is unclear how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The last matches will be held in a evening slot instead of early afternoon

Competitor Requirements

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have registered with the governing body - can participate in 'single-point competition' tournaments at their local tennis clubs

The winners of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every geographic division chosen to compete in the 'grand finale' in a night session on the specified date

There will also be a preliminary competition in December which everyday players, developing professionals, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can compete in

It starts on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will advance to Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the ultimate winner will walk away with the award. Registrations will begin shortly at venues nationwide"

Tournament officials mentioned there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the tournament site said "celebrities" would be taking part