Carlos Alcaraz Ready to Battle Non-Professionals in $1 Million Winner-Takes-All Event
Amateur players are getting the chance to win A$1m when they face tennis' top professionals - headed by leading player the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown before January's Australian Open
Tournament officials of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pair 10 amateur players against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue
How the Event Will Work
Participants must play 'the decision-making game' to establish who serves or receives, and the player who wins the point will progress to the following stage
The champion of the event will receive approximately half a million pounds
By comparison, players who advanced to the final four of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m
Past Comparable Tournaments
The American Grand Slam staged a revamped, independent mixed doubles tournament in August which motivated top singles players to participate, with the winners receiving one million US dollars
The Australian Open held its first-ever One Point Slam this year, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure
Andrey Rublev was the single high-ranked athlete involved, and his progress came to an end when he directed the single service opportunity granted into the net in his last eight match
Competition Information
Planners have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to emulate a comparable structure to this year's edition
The elite players will be granted to make one service and the everyday players twice - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis
While it is unclear how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the site will be the main stadium rather than the secondary venue
The final stages will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing
Entry Details
Local players - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with the national federation - can enter 'single-point competition' competitions at their community centers
The winners of the local competitions will then go into a selection process, with a single non-professional from every geographic division picked to participate in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on mid-January
There will also be a qualifying draw in the final month which non-professionals, aspiring competitors, well-known figures and sports personalities can participate in
It commences on the starting date and the two winners will qualify for Wednesday's 'championship match' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors
"No matter your experience, the overall victor will claim the prize. Registrations will open soon at facilities throughout the nation"
Event organizers stated there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the official website indicated "well-known figures" would be involved