🔗 Share this article

Recreational competitors will have the possibility to earn a seven-figure prize when they face tennis' top professionals - including world number one the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle before January's Australian Open

Organizers of the Melbourne major have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pit everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at Melbourne Park

The Unique Competition Operates

Competitors are set to play 'the classic hand game' to determine who serves or receives, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the next round

The victor of the event will take home a significant cash prize

For comparison, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the primary tournaments in the last edition won A$1.1m

Past Similar Events

The US Open staged a redesigned, independent mixed doubles tournament in August which motivated top singles players to participate, with the winners receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its debut One Point Slam this year, but the total purse was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the only top-10 player involved, and his run concluded when he directed the single service opportunity allowed into the mesh in his last eight match

Event Details

Planners have not specified precisely how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to follow a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be granted to serve once and the non-professionals twice - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis

While it is uncertain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the secondary venue

The last matches will be held in a evening slot instead of 1pm local time

Competitor Information

Local players - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with the national federation - can compete in 'One Point Slam' events at their neighborhood facilities

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every region and area chosen to compete in the 'final competition' in a evening match on the specified date

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which amateurs, lower ranked pros, famous personalities and sport stars can compete in

It starts on early January and the pair of champions will go into the midweek 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and 10 professionals

"No matter your experience, the ultimate winner will claim the award. Registrations will open soon at facilities throughout the nation"

Competition planners stated there were "more big names to be announced soon", while the official website mentioned "celebrities" would be participating