Recreational competitors are getting an opportunity to win a seven-figure prize when they take on tennis' top professionals - including leading player the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point before the Australian Grand Slam
Event planners of the Australian Open have unveiled the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at Melbourne Park
This Innovative Tournament Functions
Participants must play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who serves or receives, and the competitor securing the point will progress to the next round
The champion of the event will earn £490,000
Contextually, players who advanced to the semi-finals of the main draw competitions in the 2025 Australian Open won A$1.1m
Earlier Similar Events
The US Open organized a redesigned, standalone combined gender tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to take part, with the victors receiving $1m
The Australian Open held its inaugural One Point Slam in the current season, but the total purse was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it received minimal attention
Andrey Rublev was the single high-ranked athlete involved, and his progress concluded when he sent the sole serving chance allowed into the mesh in his last eight match
Competition Specifics
Organizers have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is expected to mirror a akin setup to the previous version
The professionals will be allowed to have a single serve and the non-professionals twice - as is the standard practice in standard play
While it is not certain how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the site will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court
The last matches will be held in a evening slot instead of early afternoon
Entry Requirements
Domestic competitors - or international players who have registered with the governing body - can compete in 'One Point Slam' competitions 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 picked to compete in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on mid-January
There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which everyday players, aspiring competitors, famous personalities and sport stars can compete in
It commences on the starting date and the successful competitors will go into Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and 10 professionals
"No matter your experience, the final champion will walk away with the award. Entries will open soon at clubs throughout the nation"
Event organizers said there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the tournament site mentioned "well-known figures" would be participating
