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Amateur players are getting the chance to earn A$1m when they take on tennis' top professionals - featuring leading player the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown prior to the Australian Grand Slam

Event planners of the Melbourne major have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit 10 amateur players against elite athletes in a knockout tournament at Melbourne Park

This Innovative Competition Operates

Participants must play 'the decision-making game' to determine who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the next round

The winner of the event will take home approximately half a million pounds

For comparison, players who advanced to the final four of the main draw competitions in the last edition won A$1.1m

Past Similar Events

The American Grand Slam hosted a redesigned, standalone mixed doubles tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The Melbourne tournament held its debut One Point Slam earlier this year, but the cash prize was A$60,000 and it generated little publicity

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor involved, and his run concluded when he sent the one and only serve permitted into the net in his last eight match

Tournament Information

Planners have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to emulate a similar format to the most recent iteration

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

While it is uncertain how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will be held in a night session instead of 1pm local time

Participation Information

Local players - or international players who have enrolled with the national federation - can participate in 'single-point competition' competitions at their neighborhood facilities

The victors of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a selection process, with an everyday competitor from every geographic division chosen to take part in the 'grand finale' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which everyday players, aspiring competitors, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can compete in

It begins on the starting date and the pair of champions will advance to Wednesday's 'championship match' with the other eight amateurs and 10 professionals

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the overall victor will receive the award. Applications will begin shortly at clubs across the country"

Event organizers said there were "more big names to be revealed shortly", while the official website said "well-known figures" would be participating