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Recreational competitors are being offered the chance to earn a seven-figure prize when they compete against world-class athletes - including leading player the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown prior to January's Australian Open

Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match everyday competitors against elite athletes in a elimination competition at the tournament grounds

How the Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'the decision-making game' to decide who takes the serve or return position, and the player who wins the point will progress to the next round

The champion of the event will earn £490,000

By comparison, players who made it to the semi-finals of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m

Past Comparable Tournaments

The American Grand Slam organized a redesigned, standalone combined gender tournament in August which prompted top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The Australian Open held its first-ever quick-fire event in the current season, but the total purse was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the only top-10 player participating, and his run finished when he sent the one and only serve permitted failing to clear the net in his penultimate round

Competition Specifics

Planners have not detailed exactly how the event will work, but it is expected to emulate a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be allowed to serve once and the everyday players two times - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will occur in a night session instead of midday timing

Participation Requirements

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have registered with the national federation - can participate in 'single-point competition' events at their local tennis clubs

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every geographic division chosen to participate in the 'grand finale' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a qualifying draw in the final month which amateurs, developing professionals, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can compete in

It commences on the starting date and the two winners will advance to Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the additional everyday players and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the ultimate winner will walk away with the award. Registrations will begin shortly at facilities nationwide"

Event organizers said there were "more big names to be announced soon", while the tournament site indicated "celebrities" would be taking part