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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered the possibility to claim one million Australian dollars when they compete against elite players - featuring world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point before the year's first major

Event planners of the Australian Open have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pair everyday competitors against elite athletes in a single-elimination format at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Event Will Work

Competitors are set to play 'the classic hand game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the subsequent phase

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

By comparison, players who advanced to the semi-finals of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won over a million Australian dollars

Past Similar Events

The US Open organized a revamped, separate mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which motivated top singles players to participate, with the winners receiving $1m

The year's first major held its first-ever quick-fire event in the current season, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it generated little publicity

Andrey Rublev was the sole elite competitor participating, and his progress finished when he put the single service opportunity permitted into the net in his last eight match

Tournament Information

Officials have not specified precisely how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to emulate a similar format to this year's edition

The elite players will be permitted to make one service and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis

While it is unclear how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the site will be the main stadium rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The last matches will occur in a night session instead of early afternoon

Entry Information

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have registered with the governing body - can participate in 'quick-match event' tournaments at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the community events will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every region and area picked to compete in the 'final competition' in a night session on the specified date

There will also be a entry tournament in late year which everyday players, developing professionals, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can enter

It starts on early January and the two winners will advance to the following day's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the overall victor will receive the award. Entries will begin shortly at facilities throughout the nation"

Tournament officials said there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the tournament site indicated "famous personalities" would be participating