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Amateur players are being offered the chance to earn A$1m when they take on world-class athletes - including world number one the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown before the Australian Grand Slam

Event planners of the Australian Open have announced the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit a dozen non-professionals against top-ranked players in a single-elimination format at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Competition Operates

Players will play 'the classic hand game' to determine who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will progress to the subsequent phase

The winner of the event will receive £490,000

Contextually, players who reached the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the 2025 Australian Open won over a million Australian dollars

Past Similar Events

The American Grand Slam hosted a revamped, independent mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which motivated top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving a million-dollar prize

The Melbourne tournament held its first-ever quick-fire event earlier this year, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it generated little publicity

One top competitor was the sole elite competitor involved, and his campaign finished when he sent the sole serving chance permitted into the mesh in his penultimate round

Tournament Information

Planners have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is projected to mirror a akin setup to this year's edition

The top competitors will be permitted to serve once and the amateurs two times - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis

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

The last matches will be held in a evening slot instead of 1pm local time

Participation Details

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have enrolled with the national federation - can participate in 'single-point competition' events at their community centers

The champions of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every region and area picked to take part in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a preliminary competition in the final month which everyday players, developing professionals, celebrities and athletic celebrities can enter

It starts on early January and the pair of champions will advance to Wednesday's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the overall victor will walk away with the reward. Entries will begin shortly at clubs across the country"

Competition planners said there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the event portal said "celebrities" would be taking part