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Recreational competitors are being offered the possibility to earn one million Australian dollars when they face tennis' top professionals - headed by world number one the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle prior to January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Australian Open have announced the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match everyday competitors against elite athletes in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will advance to the following stage

The winner of the event will receive £490,000

Contextually, players who reached the penultimate round of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m

Previous Comparable Tournaments

The US Open hosted a redesigned, standalone mixed doubles tournament in August which encouraged top singles players to participate, with the victors receiving a million-dollar prize

The year's first major held its first-ever One Point Slam in the current season, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete involved, and his campaign concluded when he directed the sole serving chance permitted into the net in his last eight match

Tournament Specifics

Organizers have not said exactly how the event will function, but it is projected to mirror a comparable structure to the previous version

The professionals will be allowed to make one service and the amateurs two times - as is the norm in standard play

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

The concluding rounds will be held in a evening slot instead of midday timing

Entry Information

Domestic competitors - or international players who have signed up with the national federation - can compete in 'One Point Slam' tournaments at their local tennis clubs

The winners of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every region and area chosen to take part in the 'championship round' in a night session on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in December which non-professionals, developing professionals, well-known figures and sport stars can compete in

It starts on early January and the successful competitors will go into the midweek 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will walk away with the prize. Applications will open soon at clubs throughout the nation"

Competition planners stated there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal indicated "celebrities" would be involved