Alcaraz Ready to Battle Non-Professionals in Seven-Figure Single-Point Showdown

Everyday tennis enthusiasts are getting an opportunity to win a seven-figure prize when they compete against elite players - featuring world number one the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown before the year's first major

Tournament officials of the Melbourne major have announced the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pair everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at the tournament grounds

How the Competition Operates

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will progress to the next round

The champion of the event will receive a significant cash prize

Contextually, players who made it to the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m

Previous Related Competitions

The American Grand Slam staged a revamped, standalone combined gender tournament in the eighth month which motivated top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving a million-dollar prize

The year's first major held its inaugural single-point competition this year, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure

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

Competition Specifics

Planners have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to emulate a akin setup to the previous version

The top competitors will be granted to serve once and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the norm in traditional tennis

While it is uncertain how the bracket will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of 1pm local time

Competitor Requirements

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

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a random pairing, with an everyday competitor from every region and area chosen to take part in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on the specified date

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which non-professionals, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and sports personalities can compete in

It starts on the starting date and the pair of champions will go into Wednesday's 'final showdown' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will walk away with the reward. Applications will start imminently at clubs throughout the nation"

Tournament officials said there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the event portal indicated "celebrities" would be involved