🔗 Share this article

Everyday tennis enthusiasts will have the chance to earn one million Australian dollars when they take on tennis' top professionals - featuring leading player the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle leading up to the year's first major

Tournament officials of the Australian Open have revealed the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will pair everyday competitors against elite athletes in a knockout tournament at the tournament grounds

This Innovative Event Will Work

Players will play 'the classic hand game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will progress to the next round

The winner of the event will take home £490,000

Contextually, players who advanced to the semi-finals of the main draw competitions in the last edition won A$1.1m

Earlier Similar Events

The US Open organized a redesigned, separate combined gender tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The Australian Open held its first-ever One Point Slam this year, but the cash prize was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the only top-10 player competing, and his campaign concluded when he put the one and only serve permitted into the net in his last eight match

Tournament Specifics

Officials have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is projected to follow a similar format to the previous version

The elite players will be granted to serve once and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the norm in conventional tennis

While it is unclear how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the primary court rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing

Entry Requirements

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have enrolled with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'single-point competition' events at their community centers

The champions of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every state and territory selected to participate in the 'final competition' in a evening match on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which amateurs, developing professionals, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can participate in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will advance to the midweek 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes

"Regardless of your skill level, the ultimate winner will receive the prize. Entries will begin shortly at clubs throughout the nation"

Competition planners said there were "additional stars to be announced soon", while the tournament site mentioned "famous personalities" would be involved