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Amateur players will have the chance to earn A$1m when they face tennis' top professionals - including world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Australian Open have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match a dozen non-professionals against elite athletes in a elimination competition at the tournament grounds

How the Competition Operates

Players will play 'the classic hand game' to establish who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the subsequent phase

The victor of the event will receive a significant cash prize

For comparison, players who advanced to the semi-finals of the main draw competitions in the 2025 Australian Open won A$1.1m

Earlier Comparable Tournaments

The US Open hosted a revamped, separate mixed doubles tournament in August which prompted top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The Australian Open held its inaugural single-point competition earlier this year, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete involved, and his progress concluded when he directed the sole serving chance allowed failing to clear the net in his last eight match

Tournament Specifics

Planners have not specified precisely how the event will work, but it is anticipated to mirror a akin setup to the previous version

The elite players will be granted to have a single serve and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the usual procedure in standard play

While it is not certain how the draw will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the site will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will take place in a evening slot instead of early afternoon

Entry Information

Local players - or overseas competitors who have signed up with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'single-point competition' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The victors of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every geographic division picked to participate in the 'championship round' in a evening match on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in December which amateurs, lower ranked pros, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can compete in

It starts on early January and the two winners will advance to the following day's 'grand finale' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will walk away with the award. Entries will begin shortly at clubs across the country"

Competition planners said there were "additional stars to be announced soon", while the tournament site mentioned "famous personalities" would be taking part