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Amateur players are getting an opportunity to earn one million Australian dollars when they face world-class athletes - headed by top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to January's Australian Open

Tournament officials of the Australian Open have announced the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match a dozen non-professionals against top-ranked players in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue

How the Competition Operates

Players will play 'the decision-making game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will progress to the next round

The victor of the event will earn £490,000

By comparison, players who reached the semi-finals of the main draw competitions in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars

Earlier Comparable Tournaments

The New York major hosted a redesigned, standalone mixed doubles tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its inaugural quick-fire event earlier this year, but the prize fund was a smaller amount and it generated little publicity

One top competitor was the only top-10 player competing, and his campaign concluded when he directed the one and only serve allowed failing to clear the net in his last eight match

Competition Details

Officials have not detailed exactly how the event will work, but it is expected to mirror a akin setup to this year's edition

The professionals will be allowed to serve once and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the standard practice in standard play

While it is unclear how the pairings will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the main stadium rather than the alternative court

The last matches will occur in a nighttime schedule instead of 1pm local time

Competitor Information

Local players - or foreign participants who have signed up with the national federation - can enter 'One Point Slam' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The winners of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every region and area picked to compete in the 'championship round' in a evening match on mid-January

There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which everyday players, lower ranked pros, celebrities and athletic celebrities can enter

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will go into the midweek 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and top-ranked athletes

"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will claim the reward. Entries will begin shortly at facilities across the country"

Event organizers mentioned there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the official website mentioned "celebrities" would be participating