Alcaraz Ready to Battle Amateurs in $1 Million One Point Slam
Everyday tennis enthusiasts will have an opportunity to win A$1m when they take on tennis' top professionals - headed by top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point before the Australian Grand Slam
Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit everyday competitors against elite athletes in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue
How the Tournament Functions
Competitors are set to play 'the decision-making game' to establish who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the next round
The victor of the event will receive a significant cash prize
For comparison, players who advanced to the final four of the men's or women's singles in the last edition won A$1.1m
Past Similar Events
The New York major organized a restructured, separate combined gender tournament in August which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving $1m
The year's first major held its first-ever quick-fire event earlier this year, but the cash prize was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it generated little publicity
Andrey Rublev was the single high-ranked athlete participating, and his run finished when he directed the sole serving chance permitted failing to clear the net in his last eight match
Event Specifics
Organizers have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to follow a similar format to the previous version
The top competitors will be allowed to have a single serve and the everyday players two times - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis
While it is uncertain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the venue will be the primary court rather than the secondary venue
The final stages will be held in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing
Participation Requirements
Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have registered with the national federation - can compete in 'One Point Slam' competitions at their community centers
The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a selection process, with a single non-professional from every state and territory selected to compete in the 'grand finale' in a night session on mid-January
There will also be a entry tournament in late year which everyday players, developing professionals, well-known figures and sports personalities can participate in
It begins on early January and the pair of champions will go into the midweek 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and 10 professionals
"No matter your experience, the overall victor will receive the reward. Entries will start imminently at facilities across the country"
Event organizers mentioned there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal mentioned "celebrities" would be taking part