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Amateur players will have the chance to win A$1m when they compete against world-class athletes - including top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown prior to January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Melbourne major have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match a dozen non-professionals against elite athletes in a single-elimination format at the tournament grounds

The Unique Competition Operates

Players will play 'the decision-making game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will progress to the subsequent phase

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

By comparison, players who advanced to the semi-finals of the men's or women's singles in the 2025 Australian Open won A$1.1m

Earlier Similar Events

The US Open organized a revamped, separate combined gender tournament in August which prompted top singles players to compete, with the champions receiving a million-dollar prize

The Melbourne tournament held its debut quick-fire event earlier this year, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it generated little publicity

Andrey Rublev was the only top-10 player involved, and his progress came to an end when he directed the one and only serve permitted into the mesh in his quarter-final

Competition Details

Planners have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is projected to emulate a akin setup to the previous version

The elite players will be permitted to make one service and the everyday players two times - as is the usual procedure in standard play

While it is uncertain how the bracket will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the main stadium rather than the secondary venue

The final stages will occur in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing

Entry Requirements

Any Australians - or international players who have enrolled with the governing body - can compete in 'One Point Slam' events at their neighborhood facilities

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a selection process, with one amateur player from every state and territory chosen to participate in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a qualifying draw in the final month which amateurs, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can compete in

It commences on early January and the successful competitors will qualify for the following day's 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the overall victor will claim the award. Entries will begin shortly at venues across the country"

Event organizers said there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the tournament site mentioned "well-known figures" would be taking part