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Amateur players are getting the possibility to earn A$1m when they face tennis' top professionals - featuring top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown prior to the year's first major

Event planners of the Melbourne major have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match 10 amateur players against elite athletes in a elimination competition 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 move forward to the following stage

The winner of the event will earn a significant cash prize

By comparison, players who advanced to the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won substantial prize money

Earlier Related Competitions

The US Open hosted a revamped, standalone mixed doubles tournament in August which prompted top singles players to participate, with the winners receiving a million-dollar prize

The year's first major held its debut quick-fire event this year, but the prize fund was a smaller amount and it generated little publicity

Andrey Rublev was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his progress finished when he put the single service opportunity granted into the net in his last eight match

Event Information

Planners have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is expected to mirror a comparable structure to the previous version

The top competitors will be permitted to make one service and the everyday players two times - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain how the draw will work, there will be several competitive phases and the location will be the primary court rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will take place in a evening slot instead of midday timing

Participation Details

Local players - or foreign participants who have enrolled with Tennis Australia - can compete in 'quick-match event' events at their community centers

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a selection process, with an everyday competitor from every region and area picked to compete in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on the specified date

There will also be a preliminary competition in December which amateurs, aspiring competitors, celebrities and athletic celebrities can participate in

It starts on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will go into the midweek 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will claim the award. Entries will start imminently at venues nationwide"

Tournament officials stated there were "more big names to be announced soon", while the tournament site indicated "celebrities" would be involved