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Recreational competitors are getting the possibility to earn one million Australian dollars when they compete against elite players - featuring world number one the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point before the year's first major

Event planners of the Melbourne major have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit a dozen non-professionals against top-ranked players in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

This Innovative Event Will Work

Participants must play 'the decision-making game' to establish who serves or receives, and the competitor securing the point will move forward to the following stage

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

For comparison, players who advanced to the semi-finals of the main draw competitions in the last edition won substantial prize money

Previous Comparable Tournaments

The New York major organized a redesigned, separate mixed doubles tournament in August which motivated top singles players to participate, with the victors receiving a million-dollar prize

The year's first major held its debut quick-fire event in the current season, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the only top-10 player competing, and his campaign finished when he directed the one and only serve granted into the net in his penultimate round

Competition Information

Officials have not said exactly how the event will function, but it is anticipated to mirror a similar format to the previous version

The elite players will be permitted to have a single serve and the non-professionals two times - as is the standard practice in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain how the pairings will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the site will be the main stadium rather than the secondary venue

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

Participation Information

Local players - or foreign participants who have enrolled with the national federation - can compete in 'quick-match event' events at their community centers

The victors of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with a single non-professional from every region and area selected to compete in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on the specified date

There will also be a entry tournament in December which amateurs, aspiring competitors, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can enter

It begins on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will qualify for the following day's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the ultimate winner will walk away with the prize. Entries will open soon at facilities across the country"

Competition planners said there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the official website mentioned "well-known figures" would be taking part