🔗 Share this article

Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered the possibility to claim one million Australian dollars when they take on elite players - including leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown leading up to the Australian Grand Slam

Tournament officials of the year's first Grand Slam have unveiled the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will match everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a single-elimination format at the Australian Open venue

How the Tournament Functions

Competitors are set to play 'the decision-making game' to establish who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will advance to the following stage

The champion of the event will receive £490,000

For comparison, players who made it to the final four of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won over a million Australian dollars

Earlier Related Competitions

The US Open organized a restructured, independent mixed doubles tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to compete, with the winners receiving $1m

The year's first major held its debut single-point competition earlier this year, but the total purse was A$60,000 and it generated little publicity

One top competitor was the sole elite competitor participating, and his run concluded when he directed the sole serving chance allowed into the mesh in his quarter-final

Tournament Details

Planners have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is expected to emulate a similar format to this year's edition

The top competitors will be allowed to make one service and the amateurs on two occasions - as is the standard practice in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the pairings will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will take place in a evening slot instead of midday timing

Entry Requirements

Any Australians - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with the national federation - can compete in 'single-point competition' competitions at their local tennis clubs

The winners of the community events will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every region and area chosen to take part in the 'final competition' in a evening match on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in late year which everyday players, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and sport stars can participate in

It begins on the starting date and the successful competitors will advance to the following day's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and 10 professionals

"No matter your experience, the ultimate winner will claim the reward. Registrations will begin shortly at facilities nationwide"

Event organizers said there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the event portal mentioned "famous personalities" would be participating