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Amateur players are being offered an opportunity to claim A$1m when they face tennis' top professionals - headed by leading player the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown prior to January's Australian Open

Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'the decision-making game' to decide who takes the serve or return position, and whoever wins the point will progress to the next round

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

For comparison, players who made it to the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the 2025 Australian Open won substantial prize money

Past Related Competitions

The US Open staged a redesigned, separate mixed doubles tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The Australian Open held its debut single-point competition in the current season, but the prize fund was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it generated little publicity

Andrey Rublev was the sole elite competitor involved, and his progress came to an end when he directed the one and only serve permitted into the net in his quarter-final

Competition Specifics

Officials have not specified precisely how the event will operate, but it is expected to follow a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be permitted to make one service and the everyday players twice - as is the norm in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the site will be the primary court rather than the smaller Kia Arena

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

Participation Requirements

Domestic competitors - or overseas competitors who have registered with the national federation - can enter 'quick-match event' tournaments at their local tennis clubs

The victors of the local competitions will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every region and area picked to compete in the 'grand finale' in a evening match on the specified date

There will also be a entry tournament in December which amateurs, developing professionals, famous personalities and sport stars can enter

It starts on early January and the pair of champions will go into the midweek 'final showdown' with the remaining non-professionals and 10 professionals

"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will claim the prize. Registrations will open soon at clubs throughout the nation"

Tournament officials stated there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the official website mentioned "well-known figures" would be involved