Alcaraz Set to Compete Against Non-Professionals in Seven-Figure One Point Slam
Amateur players will have the chance to earn one million Australian dollars when they take on elite players - featuring world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point before the Australian Grand Slam
Tournament officials of the year's first Grand Slam have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match a dozen non-professionals against elite athletes in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue
How the Tournament Functions
Competitors are set to play 'the decision-making game' to establish who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will advance to the following stage
The champion of the event will take home a significant cash prize
Contextually, players who reached the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won over a million Australian dollars
Earlier Related Competitions
The New York major hosted a restructured, separate combined gender tournament in August which motivated top singles players to compete, with the victors receiving one million US dollars
The year's first major held its inaugural quick-fire event in the current season, but the cash prize was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure
The Russian player was the sole elite competitor participating, and his progress concluded when he sent the sole serving chance allowed failing to clear the net in his penultimate round
Event Details
Planners have not specified precisely how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to emulate a akin setup to the previous version
The professionals will be permitted to make one service and the non-professionals twice - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis
While it is unclear how the draw will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the primary court rather than the smaller Kia Arena
The final stages will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of 1pm local time
Competitor Information
Any Australians - or foreign participants who have enrolled with Tennis Australia - can enter 'One Point Slam' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities
The champions of the local competitions will then go into a selection process, with one amateur player from every region and area chosen to participate in the 'grand finale' in a evening match on Wednesday, 14 January
There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which everyday players, aspiring competitors, celebrities and sports personalities can enter
It begins on the starting date and the pair of champions will qualify for Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and 10 professionals
"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the overall victor will walk away with the award. Applications will start imminently at venues throughout the nation"
Competition planners mentioned there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the official website said "celebrities" would be involved