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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered the possibility to earn A$1m when they compete against world-class athletes - featuring world number one the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point before the year's first major

Tournament officials of the Australian Open have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match 10 amateur players against 22 professionals in a single-elimination format at the tournament grounds

This Innovative Competition Operates

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

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

Contextually, players who made it to the semi-finals of the main draw competitions in the 2025 Australian Open won substantial prize money

Earlier Comparable Tournaments

The US Open organized a revamped, separate mixed doubles tournament in August which motivated top singles players to participate, with the winners receiving a million-dollar prize

The Australian Open held its first-ever single-point competition earlier this year, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the only top-10 player participating, and his campaign came to an end when he sent the one and only serve granted into the mesh in his penultimate round

Tournament Details

Officials have not detailed exactly how the event will work, but it is expected to mirror a similar format to this year's edition

The top competitors will be allowed to have a single serve and the non-professionals two times - as is the usual procedure in traditional tennis

While it is not certain how the bracket will work, there will be several competitive phases and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

The last matches will occur in a night session instead of early afternoon

Participation Requirements

Domestic competitors - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with Tennis Australia - can enter 'One Point Slam' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The victors of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a random pairing, with an everyday competitor from every geographic division chosen to take part in the 'championship round' in a night session on mid-January

There will also be a preliminary competition in the final month which everyday players, aspiring competitors, celebrities and sports personalities can enter

It begins on Monday, 12 January and the two winners will go into Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and 10 professionals

"No matter your experience, the ultimate winner will receive the award. Entries will start imminently at clubs nationwide"

Tournament officials mentioned there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal mentioned "celebrities" would be involved