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Everyday tennis enthusiasts will have an opportunity to win a seven-figure prize when they compete against world-class athletes - including top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle before January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Melbourne major 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

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will progress to the following stage

The victor of the event will receive a significant cash prize

For comparison, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the main draw competitions in the last edition won substantial prize money

Previous Similar Events

The New York major staged a restructured, standalone combined gender tournament in the eighth month which prompted top singles players to compete, with the winners receiving a million-dollar prize

The Melbourne tournament held its inaugural quick-fire event earlier this year, but the prize fund was a smaller amount and it generated little publicity

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his progress finished when he directed the single service opportunity permitted failing to clear the net in his last eight match

Tournament Information

Officials have not specified precisely how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to follow a comparable structure to the most recent iteration

The top competitors will be allowed to have a single serve and the amateurs twice - as is the standard practice 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 secondary venue

The concluding rounds will be held in a night session instead of midday timing

Competitor Requirements

Any Australians - or foreign participants who have enrolled with the governing body - can enter 'One Point Slam' competitions at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every region and area selected to take part in the 'grand finale' in a night session on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which everyday players, lower ranked pros, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can compete in

It starts on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will go into the following day's 'final showdown' with the remaining non-professionals and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the overall victor will walk away with the award. Applications will start imminently at clubs nationwide"

Event organizers stated there were "additional stars to be revealed shortly", while the tournament site mentioned "well-known figures" would be taking part