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Amateur players are getting an opportunity to earn a seven-figure prize when they take on tennis' top professionals - headed by top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle before the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the Australian Open have unveiled the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pit a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Tournament Functions

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

The champion of the event will take home approximately half a million pounds

Contextually, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the primary tournaments in the 2025 Australian Open won A$1.1m

Past Similar Events

The US Open hosted a redesigned, standalone mixed doubles tournament in August which prompted top singles players to compete, with the winners receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its debut One Point Slam earlier this year, but the cash prize was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his run came to an end when he directed the single service opportunity allowed into the mesh in his penultimate round

Tournament Information

Planners have not specified precisely how the event will work, but it is projected to mirror a similar format to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be granted to make one service and the amateurs on two occasions - as is the usual procedure in traditional tennis

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

The last matches will occur in a nighttime schedule instead of 1pm local time

Entry Information

Any Australians - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'single-point competition' tournaments at their community centers

The victors of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a selection process, with a single non-professional from every region and area selected to participate in the 'grand finale' in a evening match on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which non-professionals, developing professionals, well-known figures and sport stars can compete in

It starts on the starting date and the pair of champions will qualify for the midweek 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and 10 professionals

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the final champion will claim the reward. Applications will start imminently at facilities nationwide"

Event organizers said there were "more big names to be announced soon", while the tournament site said "famous personalities" would be involved