Carlos Alcaraz to Face Amateurs in Seven-Figure Single-Point Showdown
Everyday tennis enthusiasts will have the possibility to win a seven-figure prize when they face elite players - featuring leading player the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown before the year's first major
Tournament officials of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pair a dozen non-professionals against top-ranked players in a single-elimination format at the Australian Open venue
How the Event Will Work
Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the subsequent phase
The victor of the event will earn £490,000
Contextually, players who advanced to the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the last edition won A$1.1m
Past Related Competitions
The American Grand Slam staged a redesigned, independent combined gender tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to compete, with the victors receiving one million US dollars
The year's first major held its inaugural quick-fire event earlier this year, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention
Andrey Rublev was the only top-10 player competing, and his run finished when he put the sole serving chance allowed failing to clear the net in his quarter-final
Event Details
Officials have not detailed exactly how the event will operate, but it is expected to emulate a akin setup to the most recent iteration
The top competitors will be allowed to have a single serve and the non-professionals twice - as is the norm in conventional tennis
While it is unclear how the draw will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the venue will be the main stadium rather than the smaller Kia Arena
The final stages will be held in a night session instead of midday timing
Entry Information
Local players - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'One Point Slam' events at their neighborhood facilities
The winners of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with a single non-professional from every geographic division selected to compete in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on mid-January
There will also be a entry tournament in December which everyday players, aspiring competitors, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can enter
It commences on the starting date and the pair of champions will qualify for the midweek 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes
"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will walk away with the prize. Applications will start imminently at clubs across the country"
Event organizers mentioned there were "additional stars to be announced soon", while the official website indicated "celebrities" would be involved