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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered the chance to claim one million Australian dollars when they face elite players - featuring world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown leading up to the year's first major

Event planners of the Melbourne major have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match a dozen non-professionals against elite athletes in a single-elimination format at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Competition Operates

Participants must play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and the competitor securing the point will progress to the subsequent phase

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

For comparison, players who reached the semi-finals of the men's or women's singles in the 2025 Australian Open won A$1.1m

Past Similar Events

The New York major organized a redesigned, separate mixed doubles tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to compete, with the winners receiving one million US dollars

The Australian Open held its first-ever single-point competition in the current season, but the cash prize was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the sole elite competitor participating, and his progress finished when he sent the sole serving chance allowed into the net in his last eight match

Tournament Details

Planners have not said exactly how the event will work, but it is expected to follow a akin setup to the previous version

The top competitors will be granted to have a single serve and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the usual procedure in traditional tennis

While it is unclear how the pairings will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the venue will be the main stadium rather than the secondary venue

The last matches will be held in a night session instead of midday timing

Participation Information

Domestic competitors - or international players who have signed up with the governing body - can enter 'single-point competition' tournaments at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the local competitions will then go into a selection process, with a single non-professional from every geographic division picked to take part in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in December which amateurs, developing professionals, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can compete in

It begins on the starting date and the pair of champions will advance to the midweek 'final showdown' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will receive the award. Entries will start imminently at facilities nationwide"

Event organizers said there were "further celebrities to be unveiled imminently", while the official website said "celebrities" would be participating