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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered the chance to win A$1m when they face world-class athletes - headed by leading player the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle before January's Australian Open

Tournament officials of the year's first Grand Slam have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match 10 amateur players against top-ranked players in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue

This Innovative Competition Operates

Players will play 'the classic hand game' to determine who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will advance to the next round

The winner of the event will receive £490,000

By comparison, players who made it to the final four of the main draw competitions in the 2025 Australian Open won substantial prize money

Previous Similar Events

The New York major organized a revamped, standalone combined gender tournament in August which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the victors receiving one million US dollars

The Melbourne tournament held its debut quick-fire event in the current season, but the total purse was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it had limited exposure

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor involved, and his run finished when he put the one and only serve permitted into the mesh in his penultimate round

Tournament Details

Officials have not specified precisely how the event will operate, but it is expected to follow a similar format to this year's edition

The top competitors will be granted to have a single serve and the non-professionals two times - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis

While it is not certain how the bracket will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

The final stages will occur in a nighttime schedule instead of 1pm local time

Participation Requirements

Local players - or overseas competitors who have signed up with the governing body - can participate in 'quick-match event' tournaments at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the local competitions will then go into a random pairing, with an everyday competitor from every geographic division chosen to participate in the 'grand finale' in a evening match on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which everyday players, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and sports personalities can compete in

It commences on the starting date and the successful competitors will qualify for the following day's 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the overall victor will walk away with the award. Applications will begin shortly at venues nationwide"

Tournament officials said there were "more big names to be revealed shortly", while the official website indicated "celebrities" would be involved