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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are getting an opportunity to claim a seven-figure prize when they face elite players - featuring leading player the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle before the Australian Grand Slam

Tournament officials of the Australian Open have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pair 10 amateur players against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at Melbourne Park

The Unique Tournament Functions

Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to decide who takes the serve or return position, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the following stage

The winner of the event will take home approximately half a million pounds

By comparison, players who made it to the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won over a million Australian dollars

Past Comparable Tournaments

The American Grand Slam organized a restructured, standalone combined gender tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its debut One Point Slam earlier 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 involved, and his campaign finished when he put the single service opportunity permitted into the net in his quarter-final

Event Specifics

Organizers have not said exactly how the event will work, but it is projected to emulate a similar format to the most recent iteration

The top competitors will be granted to make one service and the non-professionals two times - as is the standard practice in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the site will be the main stadium rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will occur in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Competitor Information

Local players - or overseas competitors who have registered with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'single-point competition' events at their neighborhood facilities

The victors of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every region and area chosen to participate in the 'grand finale' in a evening match on the specified date

There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which everyday players, aspiring competitors, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can enter

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will advance to the following day's 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the final champion will walk away with the award. Applications will start imminently at venues nationwide"

Event organizers stated there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the official website said "well-known figures" would be involved