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Amateur players are getting an opportunity to earn one million Australian dollars when they take on world-class athletes - including world number one the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown prior to the Australian Grand Slam

Event planners of the Melbourne major have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match everyday competitors against top-ranked players in a single-elimination format at Melbourne Park

How the Tournament Functions

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will move forward to the next round

The victor of the event will earn a significant cash prize

Contextually, players who reached the penultimate round of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won over a million Australian dollars

Past Comparable Tournaments

The New York major staged a redesigned, separate mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving $1m

The year's first major held its inaugural quick-fire event earlier this year, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it generated little publicity

One top competitor was the only top-10 player participating, and his progress concluded when he directed the single service opportunity granted into the net in his penultimate round

Competition Information

Organizers have not detailed exactly how the event will function, but it is expected to mirror a akin setup to the previous version

The professionals will be permitted to have a single serve and the amateurs on two occasions - as is the norm in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the main stadium rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing

Participation Requirements

Any Australians - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with the national federation - can enter 'quick-match event' competitions at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a selection process, with one amateur player from every state and territory chosen to take part in the 'grand finale' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which non-professionals, lower ranked pros, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can participate in

It starts on early January and the two winners will qualify for Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"No matter your experience, the final champion will walk away with the reward. Registrations will start imminently at clubs across the country"

Competition planners said there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the tournament site said "well-known figures" would be taking part