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Recreational competitors are being offered the possibility to earn A$1m when they face tennis' top professionals - headed by world number one the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to January's Australian Open

Organizers of the Australian Open have announced the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will match a dozen non-professionals against top-ranked players in a elimination competition at Melbourne Park

How the Tournament Functions

Competitors are set to play 'the decision-making game' to determine who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will progress to the subsequent phase

The victor of the event will earn a significant cash prize

By comparison, players who reached the penultimate round of the main draw competitions in the last edition won substantial prize money

Earlier Related Competitions

The New York major organized a restructured, standalone mixed doubles tournament in August which prompted top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving $1m

The Australian Open held its debut single-point competition this year, but the total purse was A$60,000 and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete participating, and his progress concluded when he put the single service opportunity allowed into the net in his last eight match

Competition Information

Officials have not specified precisely how the event will function, but it is anticipated to emulate a akin setup to this year's edition

The professionals will be granted to make one service and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the standard practice in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain how the pairings will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the venue will be the main stadium rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Participation Requirements

Any Australians - or international players who have signed up with the governing body - can compete in 'One Point Slam' competitions at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the community events will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every state and territory picked to compete in the 'grand finale' in a evening match on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which amateurs, lower ranked pros, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can enter

It commences on early January and the successful competitors will qualify for Wednesday's 'final showdown' with the remaining non-professionals and 10 professionals

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the final champion will claim the reward. Entries will begin shortly at clubs across the country"

Competition planners mentioned there were "more big names to be announced soon", while the event portal indicated "famous personalities" would be taking part