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Recreational competitors are being offered an opportunity to claim A$1m when they compete against elite players - featuring world number one the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown leading up to the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the Australian Open have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit everyday competitors against top-ranked players in a elimination competition at Melbourne Park

How the Competition Operates

Participants must play 'the decision-making game' to determine who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will move forward to the next round

The winner of the event will take home a significant cash prize

Contextually, players who reached the final four of the main draw competitions in the previous year's tournament won substantial prize money

Past Related Competitions

The New York major staged a revamped, standalone mixed doubles tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its debut single-point competition earlier this year, but the prize fund was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention

The Russian player was the only top-10 player participating, and his run came to an end when he put the one and only serve granted into the mesh in his last eight match

Competition Information

Officials have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is expected to mirror a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The elite players will be permitted to have a single serve and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the standard practice in standard play

While it is not certain how the pairings will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the venue will be the primary court rather than the alternative court

The final stages will be held in a evening slot instead of early afternoon

Entry Requirements

Domestic competitors - or international players who have signed up with the national federation - can enter 'quick-match event' competitions at their neighborhood facilities

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every region and area picked to compete in the 'championship round' in a evening match on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in late year which amateurs, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and sport stars can compete in

It starts on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will qualify for Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the final champion will claim the reward. Applications will open soon at clubs throughout the nation"

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