Alcaraz to Face Non-Professionals in Million Dollar Single-Point Showdown
Recreational competitors will have the possibility to claim one million Australian dollars when they compete against world-class athletes - featuring leading player the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to January's Australian Open
Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match everyday competitors against top-ranked players in a single-elimination format at the tournament grounds
This Innovative Tournament Functions
Participants must play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will advance to the subsequent phase
The champion of the event will take home a significant cash prize
For comparison, players who reached the semi-finals of the main draw competitions in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m
Past Related Competitions
The American Grand Slam staged a redesigned, independent combined gender tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to compete, with the winners receiving a million-dollar prize
The Australian Open held its inaugural single-point competition earlier this year, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention
One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete involved, and his progress concluded when he sent the sole serving chance allowed into the net in his quarter-final
Competition Details
Officials have not specified precisely how the event will work, but it is anticipated to mirror a akin setup to the most recent iteration
The professionals will be permitted to make one service and the non-professionals twice - as is the norm in traditional tennis
While it is not certain how the bracket will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the location will be the main stadium rather than the secondary venue
The last matches will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon
Participation Details
Any Australians - or overseas competitors who have signed up with the national federation - can participate in 'quick-match event' events at their community centers
The winners of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every state and territory chosen to take part in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January
There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which non-professionals, developing professionals, celebrities and sport stars can enter
It begins on the starting date and the two winners will qualify for Wednesday's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors
"No matter your experience, the overall victor will walk away with the prize. Entries will open soon at facilities throughout the nation"
Competition planners mentioned there were "more big names to be revealed shortly", while the event portal mentioned "celebrities" would be involved