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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are getting an opportunity to claim a seven-figure prize when they compete against elite players - including leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown leading up to the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit 10 amateur players against top-ranked players in a single-elimination format at Melbourne Park

The Unique Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who takes the serve or return position, and whoever wins the point will progress to the subsequent phase

The champion of the event will earn a significant cash prize

Contextually, players who advanced to the final four of the main draw competitions in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars

Earlier Comparable Tournaments

The New York major organized a revamped, standalone mixed doubles tournament in August which prompted top singles players to take part, with the victors receiving $1m

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

The Russian player was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his progress concluded when he directed the one and only serve granted into the net in his penultimate round

Competition Information

Organizers have not specified precisely how the event will function, but it is anticipated to emulate a akin setup to the previous version

The professionals will be granted to have a single serve and the amateurs on two occasions - as is the norm in standard play

While it is not certain how the draw will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the venue will be the primary court rather than the secondary venue

The concluding rounds will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Entry Requirements

Any Australians - or foreign participants who have signed up with Tennis Australia - can compete in 'single-point competition' tournaments at their community centers

The victors of the local competitions will then go into a selection process, with a single non-professional from every region and area picked to take part in the 'grand finale' in a night session on the specified date

There will also be a preliminary competition in the final month which everyday players, developing professionals, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can participate in

It starts on the starting date and the successful competitors will qualify for Wednesday's 'championship match' with the remaining non-professionals and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the ultimate winner will walk away with the award. Registrations will begin shortly at facilities across the country"

Competition planners said there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the tournament site said "famous personalities" would be involved