Carlos Alcaraz to Face Non-Professionals in Seven-Figure Winner-Takes-All Event
Amateur players are being offered an opportunity to win A$1m when they compete against tennis' top professionals - featuring top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point prior to the Australian Grand Slam
Event planners of the Australian Open have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pair everyday competitors against elite athletes in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue
This Innovative Competition Operates
Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to decide who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will advance to the next round
The winner of the event will take home approximately half a million pounds
Contextually, players who reached the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won substantial prize money
Earlier Similar Events
The New York major hosted a restructured, separate combined gender tournament in the eighth month which prompted top singles players to take part, with the victors receiving a million-dollar prize
The Australian Open held its first-ever single-point competition this year, but the prize fund was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure
Andrey Rublev was the sole elite competitor competing, and his run concluded when he directed the single service opportunity granted into the net in his penultimate round
Event Specifics
Planners have not said exactly how the event will work, but it is anticipated to mirror a akin setup to the most recent iteration
The professionals will be granted to have a single serve and the amateurs two times - as is the norm in standard play
While it is uncertain how the draw will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the site will be the primary court rather than the smaller Kia Arena
The final stages will occur in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing
Participation Details
Domestic competitors - or overseas competitors who have registered with the governing body - can enter 'quick-match event' tournaments at their community centers
The victors of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every geographic division chosen to compete in the 'final competition' in a night session on the specified date
There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which everyday players, aspiring competitors, famous personalities and sport stars can enter
It starts on the starting date and the successful competitors will advance to the following day's 'championship match' with the remaining non-professionals and top-ranked athletes
"No matter your experience, the overall victor will receive the prize. Applications will open soon at clubs nationwide"
Tournament officials said there were "further celebrities to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal mentioned "well-known figures" would be involved