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Amateur players are getting the possibility to claim A$1m when they compete against world-class athletes - including world number one the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point prior to the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match 10 amateur players against elite athletes in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Tournament Functions

Competitors are set to play 'the classic hand game' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the following stage

The champion of the event will earn approximately half a million pounds

By comparison, players who reached the final four of the primary tournaments in the last edition won substantial prize money

Earlier Related Competitions

The New York major staged a restructured, standalone mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving a million-dollar prize

The Melbourne tournament held its debut single-point competition earlier this year, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure

The Russian player was the only top-10 player participating, and his progress finished when he sent the one and only serve granted into the net in his quarter-final

Event Information

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

The professionals will be permitted to have a single serve and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the norm in standard play

While it is uncertain how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will be held in a night session instead of early afternoon

Competitor Details

Local players - or foreign participants who have registered with the governing body - can enter 'One Point Slam' events at their local tennis clubs

The victors of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every state and territory chosen to take part in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in December which non-professionals, developing professionals, famous personalities and sports personalities can enter

It commences on the starting date and the successful competitors will go into the midweek 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and 10 professionals

"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will claim the reward. Applications will begin shortly at clubs throughout the nation"

Tournament officials mentioned there were "more big names to be revealed shortly", while the official website mentioned "well-known figures" would be taking part