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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered an opportunity to win one million Australian dollars when they face elite players - headed by leading player the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown prior to January's Australian Open

Tournament officials of the Australian Open have unveiled the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pair 10 amateur players against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Players will play 'the classic hand game' to establish who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will advance to the next round

The victor of the event will receive £490,000

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

Past Comparable Tournaments

The New York major staged a revamped, independent combined gender tournament in August which prompted top singles players to take part, with the victors receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its inaugural quick-fire event in the current season, but the prize fund was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the sole elite competitor involved, and his run came to an end when he directed the sole serving chance allowed into the mesh in his last eight match

Competition Details

Organizers have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to mirror a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The elite players will be allowed to serve once and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the norm in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the location will be the primary court rather than the alternative court

The final stages will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Competitor Requirements

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have enrolled with the national federation - can enter 'single-point competition' events at their community centers

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a random pairing, with an everyday competitor from every region and area picked to take part in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which non-professionals, developing professionals, celebrities and athletic celebrities can participate in

It begins on the starting date and the successful competitors will advance to the following day's 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and 10 professionals

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will walk away with the reward. Applications will start imminently at venues throughout the nation"

Event organizers said there were "additional stars to be announced soon", while the official website said "celebrities" would be involved